Matthijs de Ligt has been sidelined since November and Michael Carrick admits that his Manchester United season could be over as he struggles to regain fitness
Matthijs de Ligt hasn't played in 2026 due to injury
Matthijs de Ligt hasn't played in 2026 due to injury(Image: Getty Images)
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Michael Carrick has confessed that Matthijs de Ligt might not play again for Manchester United this season as his injury woes continue.
The Dutchman first went down in November and the initial expectation was that the centre-half would return before too long. But with eight games remaining for the Red Devils there is now a reality where De Ligt doesn't play again as he continues his rehab process.
De Ligt had been a regular until he copped his injury in the win at Crystal Palace. Before that he had played every minute this season, all of which came under Ruben Amorim, but Carrick hasn't been able to call on him once.
The current United boss admits that the ex-Bayern Munich defender is not recovering as quickly as they'd have liked and the Manchester outfit may have to make do without him until next season.
Carrick said on De Ligt's recovery: "It's difficult to say, just because it's taken that much time. It's one of those things with backs that sometimes you think it's alright, and then all of a sudden it's not quite right.
"It's like any injury. It's trying to get the balance right. Some are a little bit more straightforward than others. He's improving, but it's not improving as quick as we all hope. I'm not trying to hide anything. We're just being patient and working through it. We'll obviously give him time and try to get him back as quick as we can, but literally at the moment we don't know so we'll have to wait and see."
United have sufficient depth at the heart of defence. Even with Lisandro Martinez also nursing fitness issues they've been able to call upon Leny Yoro and Harry Maguire, who have helped spearhead their rise up the table with the club third and poised for a Champions League return.
Harry Maguire has stepped in as Man Utd deal with several backline injuries
Harry Maguire has stepped in as Man Utd deal with several backline injuries(Image: Getty)
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Carrick isn't convinced that changing their rehab methods would get De Ligt back and playing any sooner. "I don't want to get into that at this stage. I think we'll obviously try and do whatever we can to help Matta, whatever that takes," he said.
"We're working through that now at the moment, to be honest. Hopefully he'll be back sooner rather than later, and everything will be fine and we can move on."
United's return to a back four, rather than the back three they played under Amorim, has decreased the need for them to have multiple centre-halves fit and available.
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