Manchester United are hoping that Luke Shaw and Tyrell Malacia will return to action after their respective calf and knee injuries after the upcoming international break in October.
Shaw missed the final three months of last season with a hamstring problem but has regained fitness to play a role in the latter stages of Euro 2024 with England during the summer A new problem, however, has sidelined the defender since then.
Malacia has been absent for the longest time, not seen in a united shirt since May 2023, 17 months ago.
Speaking this week, manager Erik ten Hag said both players are “improving” and is optimistic Shaw can return to the squad after the second round of internationals – the 29-year-old returns to miss out when England take on Greece. and Finland in League of Nations.
He explained: “Hopefully Luke Shaw can come back after the international break quickly. I don’t know if it’s the first game (after the international break), we hope so, but I can’t, at this point, say with 100% certainty .
“From now on, we have two and a half weeks to work up to that point. And shortly after that, it will be there.”
For Malacia, the return to full training will be a key moment. “Tyrell is making good progress on the pitch but he needs to make the step into full team training,” Ten Hag said.
United have survived without a specialist left-back so far this season. Diogo Dalot, a right-back by trade, has mainly manned that side, but Lisandro Martinez and emerging midfielder Toby Collyer have also been asked to play out of position to cover the gap.
Although the injury situation has improved from last season, United and Ten Hag have still had to deal with absences. Leny Yoro is yet to make his competitive debut since arriving from Lille in the summer, while Victor Lindelof has just become available.
Mason Mount is also currently sidelined again with a head injury suffered against Tottenham Hotspur at the weekend. But Kobbie Mainoo does not appear to have sustained any lasting damage, despite being taken off in the first half of that game. The teenage midfielder traveled with the squad for this week’s visit Europa League confrontation with Porto. Harry Maguire is also back.
