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Manchester United’s Tyrell Malacia may not be able to fully return to action until next season, according to leading Premier League injury expert Ben Dinnery.
The Dutchman became Erik ten Hag’s first signing as United manager in 2022 and played an impressive 39 times in his first season at the club.
Unfortunately disaster struck in the pre-season of 2023 when he picked up a knee injury that ruled him out of the entire season.
The Dutch international returned to training last month and it was reported that he could soon be in line to make a return to first team action.
Nonetheless, according to a leading injury expert, this may be a little optimistic.
The Manchester Evening News report that Dinnery said “I think he will be gradually integrated.”
“I think we’re probably looking at around about maybe 17 months. I’m sure it was around July last year when we last saw him.”
“We’re approaching around 15 or 16 months now. Like I said, he could be in and around that first-team squad and training with the group and getting that experience, but is he going to be pushing consistently for a start in that first team? Highly unlikely, particularly if you get some of those other players back in that United team.”
Dinnery also believes that the return of Luke Shaw will also significantly diminish Malacia’s chances of playing regular first team football.
“His opportunities within that first team and certainly minutes wise are probably going to be limited anyway, just in terms of depending upon the personnel available within that United squad.”
The fears that he may never be back to the levels he was playing at before the injury were also confirmed as Dinnery pondered “ultimately, do I see Malacia being able to perform regularly at optimum levels in that United first team when everybody else is sort of fit and available on that left-hand side? Unfortunately not.”
He claimed this season would be more about getting acclimatised to the first team surroundings again and after a good pre-season next year, the Dutchman could well make an impact in the starting eleven next season.
Unfortunately for Malacia, with United reportedly in the market for a left back in January or next summer, they may not be prepared to show much more patience. It is even thought that the club is considering activating its buy-back clause for Benfica defender and former academy star Alvaro Fernandez Carreras to bolster their left back options.
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