Wayne Rooney feels some Man Utd players are using injuries as an excuse

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.

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.

“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.”

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.