Shortening Injury List Will Help Manchester United's Season Finally Get Going

Louis van Gaal can finally see the light at the end of the tunnel. And with it, his first season in charge of Manchester United can finally get going.

There are plenty of reasons for United's slow start to the season. It takes time for a new manager to get his ideas across. And for new players to settle in at a new club, and in a new league.

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But a difficult job has been made almost impossible by an injury list that has seemed to grow week by week. Van Gaal has already used more players in the Premier League than any other manager. And it's not by choice.

It's doubtful whether he ever envisaged having to give first-team debuts to Tyler Blackett and Paddy McNair so early in his time at Old Trafford. He made a point at his first press conference of stressing his responsibility, at least for now, is to the first-team.

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But he's been forced to promote youth team players—Blackett, McNair, Reece James, James Wilson, Jesse Lingard and Tom Thorpe among them—out of necessity. 

Now, though, the treatment room is finally clearing. Van Gaal told the Manchester Evening News on Friday he only has four injured players. It's been as high as 10 at times this season.

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I'm very happy because there are no injuries from the internationals.

I don’t need any players from the second team in training. I am very happy we have no injuries in the international games and the other players are recovering.

I have confidence in my players and that's important, but it's more important they have confidence in the manager and staff.

We could have done better because I don’t think that we are in balance now.

I’m sorry to say that but that is the truth. When you see Everton the last 15 minutes or Leicester the last 15 minutes or West Ham the last 30 minutes. When you see the first 60 minutes it’s fantastic.

You can say you’re not fit enough but I don’t believe that. We are looking for that in training session and evaluation images.

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Van Gaal's injury list has meant there's still a lot up in the air. We don't know, with any certainty, the system he wants to play. We don't know what his best team is.

But with key players finally returning to full fitness, there's a good chance it will be a lot clearer after upcoming games against Chelsea, Manchester City and Arsenal. Managers want to field their best teams in the biggest games.

Van Gaal has faced plenty of disruptions during his short time at United. But the biggest of them all has been the extensive injury list. 

As it starts to clear, United's season can finally get going. And with a run of big games on the horizon, it's just in time.