Matthijs de Ligt may not play again for Man Utd this campaign due to a back injury, according to the Daily Mail reporter Nathan Salt.
There were claims suggesting that the Dutchman was hoping to make his comeback this month, but Salt has his suspicions that the Dutchman’s recovery isn’t going to plan:
“He’s clearly got the back problem, and it is bad. I don’t think he’ll play again this season.”
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De Ligt has been on the treatment table since the 2-1 win over Crystal Palace at the end of November, three and a half months ago.
It would be a massive blow for Man Utd
De Ligt was one of United’s most consistent performers in the opening few months of the campaign, and it led to club legend Rio Ferdinand singling him out for praise:
“I think Matthijs de Ligt has been our best defender this season; he’s been outstanding for us. He’s even adding goals – with the last-minute one the other day [vs Tottenham]. His pressing, his assertiveness and his willingness to go into foreign areas up the pitch to defend at the right times has been good. Clearing out of the box, he has been brilliant.”
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There are currently five first-team players on the sidelines, including de Ligt. Noussair Mazraoui suffered a minor foot injury during the defeat to Newcastle, but he should be back to face Aston Villa.
Mason Mount is also closing on his return to action, having taken part in light training, but we shall have to wait and see what manager Michael Carrick says at his pre-match press conference to discover if the midfielder will be back on the bench this weekend.
Lisandro Martinez has already been ruled out for the Villa game with a calf problem, while Patrick Dorgu will return from his hamstring injury after the next international break.
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