Erik ten Hag confirms when Tyrell Malacia will return to Man Utd action

Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has revealed Tyrell Malacia could make his return to action within the next two months.

Malacia sat out the entire 2023/24 season due to a knee injury that required two surgeries to correct, while he has not joined the first team on their pre-season tour of the United States.

Speaking to the press while Stateside, Ten Hag provided an update on Malacia's fitness and when he will be available for selection again.

"He is now in a good place, but he is not here because I only took players who could play games or be available for team training," Ten Hag said.

"He is not that far, but he is now in a progress situation. At a relatively short notice, he can again return into team training and then into team performance in games. I think it would be possible in two months."

Malacia joined United in July 2022 from Feyenoord for an initial £13m, playing 39 games across all competitions during his debut season at Old Trafford.

After undergoing the first procedure on his troublesome knee in the summer of 2023, Malacia was initially expected to sit out the start of the following campaign, but had to have surgery again in November of that year, effectively resetting his rehabilitation process. He suffered further setbacks later in the season and ended his second year at United without a single further appearance.

United have also had to contend with injuries to fellow left-back Luke Shaw. During the first half of last season, they signed Sergio Reguilon on loan from Tottenham Hotspur, but cut the deal short in January when they believed Shaw and Malacia would soon return to action. But neither were available for much of the rest of the campaign, much to Ten Hag's public frustration.

So far during pre-season, Ten Hag has utilised the likes of teenagers Harry Amass and Sam Murray at left-back.

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