Man Utd's injury woes laid bare as new data shows shocking absences compared to Liverpool and Chelsea

Manchester United are among the teams hit worst by absences having seen players suffer 28 separate injuries, according to new data.

United's campaign has been marred by fitness issues for key men, with the absence list for this weekend's Premier League clash against Manchester City typical for the season. Erik ten Hag will be without eight first-team players and has neither a natural left-back nor striker available for the derby.

The Dutchman has often bemoaned his side's luck when it comes to injuries and was able to name a full-strength line-up for only a matter of days earlier this year, before a devastated Lisandro Martinez limped off against West Ham. And data published by Premier Injuries (via the Daily Mail) shows that United are losing players more often than most.

Their tally of 28 separate injuries is topped only by Newcastle United, who have suffered 29, while Brighton are level and Liverpool, Chelsea, Tottenham, Nottingham Forest and Crystal Palace are all on 27. Overall, United players have lost 979 days of the season due to injury, a total only beaten by five teams.

Watch Michael Plant’s run through of Erik ten Hag’s pre-derby press conference here.

Sunday's opponents Manchester City have been far more fortunate, losing players for a combined 565 days - that is including the four-month absence of Kevin de Bruyne and Erling Haaland being unavailable for 12 games across all competitions. They have the third-lowest absence rate, with only Everton and West Ham better off.

City go into the 192nd Manchester derby with almost a full bill of health, with Jack Grealish the only confirmed absence while Josko Gvardiol is a doubt. In contrast, United will have just five fit senior defenders after losing Harry Maguire recently and both left-backs - Luke Shaw and Tyrell Malacia - are unavailable.

With Anthony Martial out until April, Rasmus Hojlund was United's only natural No.9 but after a run of seven goals in six games he suffered a muscle injury and will miss the derby. Casemiro and Martinez have also been out for extended periods of time, while £60m summer signing Mason Mount remains on the sidelines with a calf issue that has restricted him to just four Premier League starts.