Staggering cost of injuries to Manchester United revealed in shock new report amid Manuel Ugarte blow

The cost of injuries to Manchester United has been revealed - and the fee is staggering.

A new report, The Men’s European Football Injury Index, compiled by global insurance intermediary group Howden, found that United suffered 75 instances of injury across the 2023-24 campaign, second only to Newcastle United with 76.

However, Manchester United have paid the highest price of any club in the Premier League with the club’s injury cost calculated at £39.81million. The cost is calculated by multiplying the daily base salary of the injured player by the number of days they were unavailable due to injury. Newcastle average player salaries are considerably lower.

Injuries have been a hot topic at Old Trafford over the past 12-months, with Erik ten Hag regularly referencing them. Manchester City, who won the league last season, had 57 injuries, at a cost of £27m.

The report was published just a day after European leagues and player unions lodged a legal complaint against FIFA with the European Commission over the fixture calendar. Overall, the Premier League recorded a drop in the number of injuries from 944 in 2022-23 to 915 last season.

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Manchester United suffer another injury blow

United have suffered another injury concern just this week. Manuel Ugarte impressed for Uruguay during their goalless draw with Ecuador before he was forced off in the 82nd minute of the match with what looked like a fitness issue. The 23-year-old was accompanied by a member of the medical team as he was withdrawn from the action, in the latest blow for Ten Hag.

Ugarte's injury scare comes at a time when United could already be without as many as nine players for the Brentford match this weekend. Kobbie Mainoo, Alejandro Garnacho and Amad Diallo all withdrew from international duty, while Mason Mount has missed the last two matches.

Noussair Mazraoui and Harry Maguire are both set for a few weeks on the sidelines and defensive duo Luke Shaw and Tyrell Malacia are not match ready yet. Leny Yoro is a long-term injury concern, but could be back in action next month.

What has Erik ten Hag said about injuries?

Speaking prior to the FC Twente match, when United were struggling with injury concerns, Ten Hag said: “We need a squad, more than 11, to line up. We need more players. And then, from game to game, we will pick a team. But you can't address it, this is the best XI in this moment, and we will see. And, of course, form is part of it. Tactics is also part of it. But definitely, the management of the load of the players is definitely part of it.”