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Mike Phelan had a habit of questioning David Moyes' management at Manchester United last season and on Tuesday Sir Alex Ferguson's former assistant provided a lengthy critique of the club's injury crisis.

Chris Smalling was Louis van Gaal's 42nd injury of the season at Southampton on Monday night, as the centre-back hobbled out of a game for the second time in four months. His replacement was the ring-rusty Jonny Evans, making his first appearance since September 21.

Phelan suggests the decision to remove the popular fitness coach, Tony Strudwick, from first-team duties has adversely affected the squad's durability. According to Phelan, Strudwick "understood the ins and outs of how to keep players fit, how to keep them ready for competition."

Yet Phelan lacks self-awareness. Unflatteringly nicknamed "Cone Man" by sections of United's support, Phelan's 12-year stint as United first-team coach was pockmarked by injury crises.

Although the number of injuries United have suffered this season is unconscionable, the problem dates back to nearly eight years ago.

After a demoralising 1-1 draw with Middlesbrough during the 2007 Premier League title run-in, Ferguson claimed he was "only playing with 12 players" ahead of the Champions League semi-final with AC Milan.

United had a slim squad and their season, eventually decorated by a first title in four years, petered out with a 3-0 humbling in Milan and a torturous FA Cup final defeat to Chelsea.

Fast-forward two-and-a-half years to December 2009 and United's defence for the 3-0 hammering at Fulham consisted of Michael Carrick, Darren Fletcher and Ritchie de Laet. Rio Ferdinand, Nemanja Vidic, Wes Brown and Evans were all sidelined and the squad was so depleted that 11 days earlier Oliver Gill, Cameron Stewart, Oliver Norwood and Magnus Eikrem were sat on the substitutes' bench for a Champions League tie at Wolfsburg.

In 2011, Ferdinand and Vidic's brittleness was becoming infamous and they both withdrew on the opening day win at West Bromwich Albion, as Ferguson was forced to throw a fearless Phil Jones in at the deep end.

On New Year's Eve that year, Ji-Sung Park and Rafael da Silva lined up in central midfield for the significant loss to Blackburn Rovers. There were mitigating circumstances, such as Wayne Rooney, Darron Gibson and Jonny Evans' exclusion after a night out, as well as the glaring omission of Paul Pogba, however Ferguson conceded on Boxing Day United had "10 players missing".

The start of the following campaign was worse. Michael Carrick partnered Vidic in United's opening game defeat at Everton as Marouane Fellaini bullied the pair. Tragicomically, Dimitar Berbatov was named on the substitutes' bench as an alternative centre-half after a cameo at Leeds United the previous season earned him the nickname "Berbanbauer".

"I’ve recalled Steve Bruce and Gary Pallister - their terms are ridiculous, mind you!" Ferguson joked.

Physio Room's injury records date back to the start of the 2002-03 season - Phelan's second working with the United first-team - and lists 817 separate injuries at United, which averages at 65 injuries per season, calculating the current campaign as half a season.

United recorded a staggering 68 injuries in Ferguson's last season. That ballooned to 98 under Moyes last term.

Ferguson's penultimate campaign - 2011-12 - included 79 separate injuries. Tom Cleverley's hasty return six days after the chastening 6-1 defeat to Manchester City in October perfectly highlighted United's desperation after they failed to sign Wesley Sneijder.

Cleverley was at the fulcrum of the Reds' opening four-game Premier League winning streak and his absence through an ankle injury - from a challenge from Bolton Wanderers' Kevin Davies - was so keenly felt he was rushed back for the gutsy 1-0 win at Everton. He lasted 57 minutes and didn't play for another four months.

The 2010-11 season featured 59 injuries, 62 in 2009-10 and 60 in 2008-09. The lowest was the 51 injuries in 2007-08, when United won the Premier League and Champions League with arguably the best squad the club has ever boasted - partly in response to the decimated state United were in at the tail-end of 2006-07.

Peculiarly, despite Ferguson limiting his tinkering with a small squad, United reported just 47 injuries that season. Yet beginning with Gary Neville's sprained ankle in the St Patrick's Day win over Bolton Wanderers, United lost each member of their settled back five and their momentum was disrupted.

Ferguson likened the Toshiba Medical Centre to a new signing two seasons ago. "We made a couple of signings in the summer but this is a big signing and is probably the most important step we have taken in a long time," he said.

"Maybe the supporters and public won’t see that, but we will and I know the players will appreciate it."

Maybe the supporters would prefer actual signings.