Christian Eriksen injury update promising for Man Utd
Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has confirmed that influential midfielder Christian Eriksen is edging closer to a return from injury.
The Danish international has been out of action since January after being caught by Andy Carroll in United's FA Cup win over Reading at Old Trafford.
Eriksen was initially projected to be out until the end of April and possibly into May, but has posted encouraging stories on social media lately showing the progress he's made in rehabiliating the injury.
Will Christian Eriksen play against Brentford?
The 31-year-old is not in contention to face former club on Brentford on Wednesday, but Ten Hag admitted in his pre-match press conference that Eriksen is back in full team training and will add some much needed quality in the middle upon his return.
“Not for tomorrow but he’s returning on the pitch. He’s returned to team training today, so we have to see now how quickly he can make the progress,” the Dutchman said.
“Two quality players,” he continued, when asked about Eriksen's return coinciding with Casemiro's four-match suspension ending. “The midfield department, games will be decided always in midfield, when you miss two quality players it’s clear.
“But you have a squad, if you don’t have them you still have to win.”
Eriksen's passing ability has been sorely missed by United in recent away defeats, with the team often struggling to keep hold out of possession in central areas.
Marcel Sabitzer and Scott McTominay were overrun and outplayed against Newcastle in particular, with the lack of protection offered to United's back four in the absence of Casemiro also evident.
What fixtures do Man Utd have coming up?
Ten Hag may welcome Eriksen back into the fold for Saturday's home game against struggling Everton, though his return may arguably be more important for the first leg of the Europa League quarter-final against Sevilla five days later.
The return leg against the Spanish giants a week later go alongside games against Nottingham Forest, Brighton, in the FA Cup semi-final, Tottenham and Aston Villa before the end of April.
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On this edition of The Promised Land, part of the 90min podcast network, Scott Saunders & Rob Blanchette discuss Man Utd's defeat to Newcastle and Erik ten Hag's tactics, preview Wednesday's game with Brentford at Old Trafford and whether Leicester playmaker James Maddison would be a sensible transfer target.
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