Injured Reds Working Hard On Tour 2017

As the main group of Manchester United players train at the glorious UCLA campus, Marcos Rojo, Luke Shaw and Ashley Young work separately as they continue to rehabilitate from injury.

It is presumably a difficult situation for the triumvirate of Reds, watching their team-mates building their fitness in the Los Angeles sun, while enjoying the more relaxed atmosphere of the pre-season campaign, yet they complete the necessary work because they are totally determined to return as soon as possible.

Rojo, Shaw and Young are not expected to feature in any of the tour matches, but Jose Mourinho decisively included all three in his 27-man squad that flew out to the US last Sunday. That suggests he wants them to feel involved, to be part of the group, rather than staying at home in Manchester.

Former United player Bojan Djordjic, our former 1999/2000 Young Player of the Year whose senior career was blighted by injuries, feels strongly that team spirit is important at this time of the season, and he has praised the work that the club’s three injured players are putting in on tour.

“As a professional footballer for Manchester United, you have to be dedicated to be at this club and you have to prove to the manager that you want to be on board,” Bojan told ManUtd.com in Los Angeles. “It doesn’t matter if you play one minute or every single game during the Premier League season that is coming up. This is a great club, the pressure is on and we need to win titles. This is what Manchester United’s history is all about, winning titles, showing dedication and striving for the best.

“Being injured is not easy. We are here in Los Angeles, the weather is great, everybody else is having sharp, intense sessions, they are getting fit and you have to do your running, the rehab and think about everything else. It is easy to have negative thoughts but you have to fight them off and prove to Jose that you want to be part of this team. Because this team is going to be much, much better this season, especially with the additions of Victor Lindelof and Romelu Lukaku. Our three injured players - Rojo, Shaw and Young - are all showing impressive dedication and that is a good sign.”

Quizzed further on the importance of togetherness, Bojan said: “If you are going to win titles you need everybody on board. The 25th player in the squad should be as important as the first. That is how you build a team. Team spirit and bonding is very important, and it’s important to have a laugh. I know that everybody wants to play, but everybody also wants to be a part of Manchester United.”