Potentially so especially when looking at who and how many are back in training and the fact that they could return to first team action upon United's return from the international break, which is in a week's time as we travel to the league's highlight of the season Nottingham Forest. Could be MASSIVE for the final crucial stretch of the campaign.
It's come out that Kobbie Mainoo, Harry Maguire, Luke Shaw (yes, even him) and Mason Mount have ALL returned to training in recent days via UtdXclusive.
This is exactly what the United manager was calling for as more often than not in the past month, he has been losing players to injury more than seeing them return. Ruben Amorim has had to have a bench full of youngsters to makeup matchday squads. Even his two backup goalies have been absent for some time.
To know that potentially four first team players will be back sooner rather than later will put a huge smile on his face.
The boss is always talking so highly of Shaw and how important he is to the side; Mainoo is one of those with the highest potential; Maguire has been superb this season; and Amorim cannot shut up when it comes to praising Mount. "I really love Mason Mount. He's a really talented player. We need players like Mason Mount" - Amorim.
High praise indeed.
These four have been injury prone with Shaw top of that list and Mount not far behind. Mainoo has had his issues over the past couple of seasons but as he is 19, we do give him the benefit of the doubt that he will be okay however, since he's so young, to have had a few serious (ish) injuries, it could be a problem in the future. Maguire is another who is a little bit too in and out of the side. At 32, he is no longer a young man and while he has been important to the team specifically during Amorim's tenure, he is unreliable due to how often he picks up injuries.
Shaw's injury history is so long it goes over two pages but just in 24/25, he's had three separate injuries: Knee, calf and his current one of a muscle problem. These have ruled him out for 70 games and 330 days for club and country, so far.
The left-back has only featured in three matches all campaign with his last being on December 1st in the 4-0 win over Everton. His contract also expires in June 2027 and at 29, it simple that he needs to go. He's never going to be consistently fit again.
His bestie Mount has been out of action for 23 games and 112 days this season but in his almost 2 years at United, the 26-year-old has missed a total of 50 games and 261 days for United. Mount's two issues this season have both been hamstring problems which is a concern to have recurring injuries.
The ex-Chelsea man's last game was in the derby where he picked up his this latest knock. That was on 15 December, not long after Shaw got injured. The good thing with him is that he was on the bench for the 3-0 win at Leicester in our last match just over a week ago meaning that his return will be sooner than most.
Mount's contract expires in 2028 leaving him with three years left on his current deal.
His and Shaw's weekly wages costs the club £400k! For two injury prone players that hardly play, that is far too much.
These are two players that would probably work perfectly in Amorim's system as well.
Mainoo has also had his muscle problems this season with two separate issues causing him to have missed 89 days and 19 games for MUFC. This is in addition to the 88 days and 21 games he was out for last season.
As I said, at 19, to have had a couple of significant injuries isn't a good thing. It raises concerns over the rest of his career that maybe he could turn into another Luke Shaw, although I think there's few who can replicate how often he's been out.
Mainoo's performances this season have also raised the question of whether he truly suits Amorim's system as on top of being in and out of the team due to injuries, he has been hit and miss in terms of his gameplay. This for a player who we all rate so highly and know his potential.
Something has to improve with him.
Maguire has been MIA too many times as well as the defender has had three different problems this season. None of them major but it's frustrating to know that every now and then, he will be out for five games at a time.
Given how good he's been this year, this becomes even more annoying as this is probably his best season in a United shirt but also one disrupted by injuries.
The now 32-year-old's contract ends next season after he already had his one year option triggered. United's former captain earns £190k-a-week with many suggesting that this should be his last year at Old Trafford. Wages, age and unreliability all factors for this decision.
More than these four, Amad has hinted at a return on the horizon. It was feared that much like Martinez, the Ivorian will be out for the season after picking up an ankle injury in training on Valentine's weekend.
United's potential player of the season until that point last featured in the 2-1 win over Leicester in the FA Cup. Ever since, he's missed 19 games and 101 days. Last season, he he had two problems the first of which saw him miss four months due to a knee injury.
To have two big issues at 22-years-old, is similar to Mainoo in that it could lead to something more worrying as time goes on.
I guess these are issues for the future but as for now, to have them back at all is something we all want to see. They will give us something more in the team as well as the bench with Amorim not having to lineup substitutes full of academy players.
We've also been missing something in that LWB position with Shaw being able to improve us there despite the recruitment of Patrick Dorgu; Mount is ideal as one of the number 10s in this system; Mainoo has immense potential; and Maguire brings quality and experience.
These are all players that Amorim will need come the final run in for the remainder of the campaign.
How great is it to have them back?
Background Image: Amad and Ruben Amorim | Creator: Alex Livesey | Credit: Getty Images Copyright: 2024 Getty Images via Goal