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Michael Carrick has said there is still no timeframe for Matthijs de Ligt return as the Manchester United defender nears three months on the sidelines with a back injury.
United face Crystal Palace at Old Trafford on Sunday in the reverse of the fixture which saw De Ligt's last appearance -- a 2-1 win at Selhurst Park on Nov. 30.
At the time, then head coach Ruben Amorim suggested the injury was a small issue which would not keep the Dutchman out for long.
But De Ligt has now missed 15 games and Carrick says there's no date yet for his comeback.
Matthijs de Ligt has not appeared for Man United since November. Photo by James Gill - Danehouse/Getty Images
"Matthijs has had a back issue which has been a bit slow to progress," Carrick told a news conference on Friday.
"It's something we've been working through, he's in the right direction but a bit further behind."
Asked specifically if there was a timeframe for De Ligt to return, Carrick said: "It's the nature of the injury, the issue in the back. It's a difficult one to pin down time wise. He's definitely improving."
De Ligt's absence has allowed Harry Maguire to nail down a spot in the centre of United's defence.
Maguire is out of contract at the end of the season. Talks are ongoing about keeping the 32-year-old England international for at least another year, although nothing has been agreed.
"Within the squad there is that balance -- you want that younger potential and excitement and helping develop players, and you need the sweet spot in the middle with players at the peak and experience is massive," Carrick said.
"It's hard to put a price on how valuable that can be. Harry has gained an awful lot of experience with this club."
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Carrick faces a selection dilemma ahead of Palace's visit with Benjamin Sesko twice coming off the bench against West Ham and Everton to score crucial goals.
There have been calls for Sesko to start this weekend, but Carrick says he's relaxed about the decision.
"The whole thing is a real positive," the United boss said.
"It's certainly not a decision that is one I look at in a negative way.
"We're playing well as a team, we're not getting carried away and thinking that carries on.
"The forwards have scored a good number of goals. Ben has been so good in so many ways. It's really not a drama.
"It just shows the quality Ben has got. If he starts the next game or the one after, it is what it is, but he's doing so many good things."