Erik ten Hag has confirmed that left-back Tyrell Malacia is close to returning to training at Manchester United.
The Dutch defender has been sidelined since the summer of 2023, when a knee injury forced him to undergo surgery and prevented him from playing a single minute last season.
However, it was included in unitedSquad for the Europa League and while Ten Hag wants fans to be patient with Malacia, he confirmed the 25-year-old is almost ready to compete again.
“Of course we want to motivate him to come back, but it’s not that easy when you’re so far away,” he said. “Now it’s more than a season from an injury to come back, but he’s working hard, he’s progressing very well at the moment.
“He is making great strides, so we believe that, in a short time, we can expect him in the training of the team, and he is a talent, he is a natural.
“Also, I hope I can get back to the games soon.”
Malacia’s eventual return to training will be a huge boost for United, who remain without their only other natural left-back, Luke Shaw.
Diogo Dalot has covered on the opposite side in recent weeks, while new signing Noussair Mazraoui has experience on the left despite being a natural right-back. Harry Amass, 17, caught the eye in pre-season and has been training with the senior squad this season.
