Man Utd boss Erik ten Hag blunt over Mason Greenwood ahead of Nottingham Forest clash
Man Utd confirmed Mason Greenwood was poised to leave earlier this week
PA
Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag has opened up on Mason Greenwood ahead of his side's Premier League clash with Nottingham Forest on Saturday.
The club confirmed earlier this week that the England international would 'resume his career away from Old Trafford'.
United had previously been expected to bring Greenwood back into the fold after charges of attempted rape and assault were dropped in February.
However, the 21-year-old is now set to leave the club after he, Richard Arnold and United themselves all released statements.
Man Utd boss Erik ten Hag has spoken to the media ahead of Nottingham Forest clash
PA
Now, speaking ahead of United's clash with Forest, Ten Hag refused to be drawn on Greenwood and insisted he was only focusing on players available for selection.
"Look, we are not where we want to be with our team, I have a lot of work and a lot of focus on my team, so I focus on the players who are available," he stated.
"I only have statements about our performance, our squad, where we have to improve because it's clear, we have to improve.
"I have to put every effort in to get the team to perform.
"I focus on the current squad and the players available."
When asked about the fans' views on Greenwood, he added: "Once again, what Manchester United fans expect is a winning Manchester United and I'm responsible for that and I have to put all my effort and all my focus and make us play better than we do now."
United have endured a slow start to the season.
And injuries are mounting up, with Luke Shaw set to miss the showdown with Forest over the weekend.
When quizzed on the England defender, Ten Hag added: "We can't do that [put a timescale], it's personal these days, they will be for some period absent where Luke will be longer than Mason [Mount].
"Luke will be longer and Mason I think."
Another player missing for United at present is new striker Rasmus Hojlund, who joined from Atalanta earlier this summer.
Ten Hag doesn't expect the Denmark international to be available for selection this weekend - but insists the 20-year-old is close to returning from a back problem.
"That is the situation, it's normal, top football, you got to the limits, injuries coming up, always disappointing but you have to deal with it and construct a squad. And deal with it," he said.
"Not for tomorrow. (He's) near.
"Today, for the first time, he came into team training so next week we expect him to do a full week of team training so he is near to the squad."
And Ten Hag has also defended United's current midfielders, with Casemiro, Mason Mount and Bruno Fernandes all currently struggling.
"You always have to analyse clinically and that assessment is not right, it was about the back and the front, not about the midfield," he said, referring to his side's 2-0 defeat to Tottenham last Saturday.
"That is why we were open. I said that straight after the game."
On Casemiro, he continued: "If you see the numbers, you see he's fully fit.
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:
Erik ten Hag was coy when asked about Man Utd outcast Mason Greenwood
PA
"I have no doubts they can do it. After 35 mins against Spurs he didn't do it anymore and we were first across the rank of fitness."