Man Utd's plan to reintegrate Amad Diallo & Matthijs de Ligt revealed
- Man Utd expecting to welcome back key man Amad Diallo
- Winger suffered worrying ankle injury in February
- Matthijs de Ligt also on course to return imminently
Manchester United "hope" that two key players sidelined over recent weeks and months could rejoin the squad in the coming days, a major boost at the crucial stage of the season.
United's 2024/25 campaign has been defined by injuries as much as anything else, with Ruben Amorim, nor Erik ten Hag before him, ever able to call upon a fully fit squad.
That still isn't the case now, with Lisandro Martinez out long-term, Diogo Dalot potentially not returning this season, and Ayden Heaven and Joshua Zirkzee also out. But the Manchester Evening News has reported that Amad Diallo and Matthijs de Ligt could be back this week.
With Amorim tipped to rotate heavily when United face Brentford on Sunday, in between the Europa League semi-final legs against Athletic Club, the Brentford clash is expected to see Amad and De Ligt handed crucial game time. It suggests that neither will feature in Bilbao this Thursday, but there could be a chance for their involvement in the return leg at Old Trafford next week.
Amad was United's best player in the early portion of Amorim's reign, racking up 11 goals and assists in 11 Premier League games from mid-November until mid-January, both as a wing-back and split 'number ten'. But an ankle injury at the start of February threatened to prematurely end his season.
The Ivorian winger struggled to command a place under Ten Hag, but came into his own during the interim reign of Ruud van Nistelrooy, which then carried on under Amorim.
De Ligt has tended to start games whenever fit this season, although it remains to be seen what status he will have once all centre-backs are available. Harry Maguire and Leny Yoro have both dealt with injury absences this season, while Luke Shaw's return to the starting XI against Bournemouth on Sunday saw him utilised as a third centre-back, rather than wing-back.
The Dutchman last featured in United's 1-0 defeat at the hands of Nottingham Forest on 1 April.
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