Man Utd defender makes return to action after 17 months out

Manchester United left-back Tyrell Malacia made his first competitive appearance in 17 months on Tuesday night, representing the club's Under-21 side in the EFL Trophy.

Malacia hasn’t played for United since May 2023 because of a long-term knee injury, enduring setbacks following an initial surgery and having to start over his rehab process. His last appearance of any kind came for the Netherlands in the UEFA Nations League semi-final in June of last year.

The 25-year-old returned to some training in September, with United staff exercising caution given the length of his absence. That was upgraded to training with the rest of the squad in October. Former interim boss Ruud van Nistelrooy then declared his fellow countryman almost ready to return last week, and Tuesday's game saw Malacia named on the U21 teamsheet.

He lined up alongside the likes of Habeeb Ogunneye and Jayce Fitzgerald, both of whom have been on the fringes of the first-team, for the clash with Huddersfield Town in West Yorkshire. This was an invaluable opportunity to get back on the pitch after so long out of the game, playing the opening 45 minutes and replaced by Harry Amass at half-time.

Unfortunately for United, Huddersfield's first-team won the game 4-1, scoring three times in the second half, to knock the junior Red Devils out of the competition.

Malacia's injury came at an awful time for both him and United. The Dutchman had been a useful squad player during his debut season in 2022/23, not regularly starting in the Premier League but still making 39 appearances across all competitions as cover for Luke Shaw.

Shaw has suffered his own injury nightmare in 2024, missing the final three months of last season with a hamstring problem, returning to fitness briefly for England at Euro 2024 and being sidelined ever since with a calf issue. It would have been an opportunity for Malacia to get an extended run in the United team and cement his place, but for his own long-term unavailability.

United have lacked left-back cover without either player, with Diogo Dalot predominantly filling in, but Lisandro Martinez, Victor Lindelof and Toby Collyer also getting the nod at various times.

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