Wayne Rooney has claimed some of Manchester United’s absent players are hiding behind their injuries.
The former United captain was speaking as a pundit on Sky Sports after watching them lose 1-0 against Arsenal at Old Trafford – their 14th league defeat of the season.
United have been without a long list of injured players for large chunks of the season and after lacking quality against the table-topping Gunners, Rooney did not pull his punches.
He said: “There’s some very good players in that squad and the performances are way below-par and as we look at the injuries they’ve picked up – some of those players can play.”
When asked if he meant the current injured players, Rooney added: “Yeah, 100 per cent. You’ve got the European Championship coming up, the FA Cup final coming up.
“It’s easy for players, because they’re getting a little bit of stick, it’s easy for players to stay out a little bit and then come back towards the (FA Cup) final and get themselves ready for the European Championship.
“I’ve seen it myself over the years. So I just think the players who have been injured, they’re not filling themselves with any credit at the minute and the manger is going to take all the stick for that.”
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United boss Erik ten Hag is currently without first-team regulars Bruno Fernandes, Marcus Rashford, Lisandro Martinez, Harry Maguire, Victor Lindelof, Raphael Varane, Luke Shaw and Mason Mount, while Tyrell Malacia and Anthony Martial are long-term absentees.
Scott McTominay returned to the starting line-up on Sunday after injury, while Ten Hag revealed earlier in the week that Argentina defender Martinez had been pleading to play after recovering from a calf problem.
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