Matthijs de Ligt has not played for Manchester United since November due to a back injury, but the Dutch centre-back remains hopeful that he will return to fitness this season.
Michael Carrick has not had Matthijs de Ligt available for selection since being appointed Manchester United’s interim head coach.
The 44-year-old’s initial preference for a centre-back pairing in a back four saw Harry Maguire partnered by Lisandro Martinez. However, an injury sustained by the Argentine World Cup-winner has given Leny Yoro a run in the team.
De Ligt was expected to be missing for one week after picking up a back injury on November 30, but he has not been seen since and there have been doubts over whether he will play again this season.
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Matthijs de Ligt celebrates equaliser against Tottenham
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Man Utd handed injury boost with Matthijs de Ligt hopeful of return
As we approach the business end of the season, in a bid to qualify for the Champions League, Carrick will want as many players available as possible.
De Ligt isn’t the only highly rated centre-back at United currently out injured, with Martinez’s absence felt at the heart of defence.
Carrick refused to rule out the possibility of De Ligt missing the remainder of the season when asked last week.
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The reason is likely Carrick’s inability to give a specific timeframe for De Ligt’s return, given the setbacks he has encountered in recent months.
According to The Sun, De Ligt is still aiming to make a return for United before the end of the Premier League campaign.
United have been cautious with De Ligt, given the severity of his back injury, and he has yet to return to training on grass.
With seven games left to play this season, as well as a three-week break for the March internationals, De Ligt faces a race against time to return in time.
It would be a huge boost for Carrick if the experienced Dutch defender could return to full fitness, but there is no reason to think he would walk straight into the team.
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Matthijs de Ligt’s World Cup hopes in doubt
Ronald Koeman is unlikely to select De Ligt in his World Cup squad, given the options he has available at centre-back.
They include Virgil van Dijk, Micky van de Ven and Nathan Ake, who have all been fit ahead of the World Cup.
Koeman had dropped De Ligt from the Netherlands squad before his injury, signalling that he was unsure about selecting the United star this summer.
That said, De Ligt had started in all 13 of United’s Premier League matches prior to his injury setback.
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