Erik ten Hag has been speaking out after Manchester United’s defeat away at Crystal Palace.

The 7-0 defeat at Liverpool will take some topping, but Manchester United’s 4-0 defeat away at Crystal Palace was another awful loss Erik ten Hag has presided over.

This time, the manager can at least hide behind the scarily high list of injuries which have piled up, impacting his team.

United had to line up with a makeshift defensive duo of Casemiro and Jonny Evans.

Jonny Evans returned to training last week and one of the effects of the injury crisis is that the squad is so thin, that Manchester United are rushing back the players who do return.

Harry Maguire suffered an injury days before the game, and this meant an increased role for Evans, now 36.

Speaking to club media after the 4-0 loss, Erik ten Hag has admitted that Evans was not ready. He selected him anyway, out of desperation.

He said: “Huge respect for Jonny that he stepped in [for Harry Maguire], but he wasn’t ready to go into the game.

“He only had two days’ training, so that is one example. But he played for 90 minutes and it was a real reward that he did this.

“But of course he can’t play to the levels what he can normally do.”

Evans and Casemiro torn apart

Selecting a half-fit Evans and an out of position Casemiro sounds horrific, and it turned out to be worse than that.

Both players were torn apart by Palace’s lively attack, both embarrassed for the Eagles opening two goals.

United was out after halftime, down 2-0. The second half showed not the slightest sign of a comeback, and Palace added two more goals before the match was over.

Louis Jackson, a teenager who has won an FA Youth Cup match at Selhurst Park, may have been United’s younger choice.

Jackson might start this weekend for United if they sustain additional injuries or if they believe it’s best not to play Evans and Casemiro together again.