The English top tier returns in under two weeks and the Red Devils have been preparing their players for a fight to finish in the top four

The return of Premier League football is a source of excitement for many – but a cause for concern for others.

And their worries are not just related to the potential spread of the coronavirus, which caused a three-month suspension of play in England’s top flight.

The Premier League this week confirmed kick-off dates and times for the next batch of matches and it was immediately noted that some sides will play four games in 11 days.

Of course, clubs will be now be allowed to name nine players on the bench, rather than seven, while the number of permitted substitutions has been increased from three to five.

However, Liverpool physio Andy Renshaw says that playing so many games in such a short period of time after a lengthy lay-off means that the potential for injuries is now “huge”.

“The simple fact is that the players’ bodies are not used to tolerating the level of load that is going to be demanded of them when they go back,” he told Goal.

Consequently, Manchester United are doing everything to ensure that every member of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s squad will be in peak physical condition ahead of their first game back, against Tottenham, in just under a fortnight.