Man Utd news: Sir Jim Ratcliffe considers U-turn as Erik ten Hag handed double injury boost

Manchester United go into their Premier League game against Crystal Palace on the back of two straight wins - and have two key players back in contention after injuries

Manchester United are preparing to face Crystal Palace in the Premier League on Saturday evening after getting a confidence boost by thrashing Barnsley.

United put seven past the League One side as Marcus Rashford, Alejandro Garnacho and Christian Eriksen scored twice at Old Trafford on Tuesday night. The result in the Carabao Cup built on the 3-0 win over Southampton and means United are in a good place heading to Selhurst Park for Saturday’s 5.30pm kick-off.

Erik ten Hag had been under intense pressure following back-to-back defeats against Brighton and Liverpool and will want to continue this streak. He knows better than most that chaos could be just around the corner at United, especially since Sir Jim Ratcliffe took charge in February.

While the main focus is on Saturday’s match, there is also plenty of news around the future of Old Trafford, so let’s take a look at the latest headlines from Mirror Football.

Ratcliffe ponders U-turn

Manchester United’s owner is considering how best to go about providing the club with a decent stadium for the future. Ratcliffe's preference so far has been to build a new 100,000-seater stadium on land adjacent to Old Trafford, allowing the club to hopefully move into the new ground by 2030 – at a cost of around £2billion.

United would remain at Old Trafford during the build under those circumstances. Once the new stadium was built, Old Trafford could be used as a home for the academy and women’s sides.

However, the prospect of the stadium being demolished is now very much on the table with the club believing keeping a scaled back Old Trafford is unrealistic. Ratcliffe will now consider the financial ramifications and the views of the fans before making a decision.

United handed double boost

Image: Manchester United via Getty Images) Manchester United via Getty Images)

Rasmus Hojlund and Mason Mount have returned to United training ahead of the trip to south London. Hojlund is yet to feature this season due to a hamstring injury, meaning a more prominent role for Joshua Zirkzee so far.

Mount hasn’t featured since the 2-1 defeat by Brighton on August 24, with a hamstring issue also keeping him out. But the midfielder appears on track for a quick return to the team after being pictured in training on Thursday. The news will be hugely welcome to Ten Hag, who will have greater competition for places in the team.

Garner explains exit

Image: Getty) Getty)

Former United midfielder James Garner has explained why he left the club to join Everton in a deal worth £15million including add-ons last summer. He struggled for game time under Ten Hag before having a candid conversation with the manager in the summer of 2023.

"My talk with him was easy,” he said. “I asked him plain and simple whether I was going to be in the squad or if he saw me playing a part. I felt the conversation did not go as well as I wanted and I made the decision to move."

He added: "Ten Hag is a very approachable guy but is very strict. He takes no one bending the rules. He will say it how it is and will punish people if they have done the wrong things."

Join our new WhatsApp communityand receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.

Click here to read article