Manchester United are keen to reintegrate Matthijs de Ligt into Michael Carrick's plans after a lengthy spell on the sidelines. As reported by TEAMtalk, the defender has resumed training, and the match against Tottenham on October 10 is being eyed as a possible return.
De Ligt has not featured for United since November last year when he played in the 2-1 victory over Crystal Palace. A persistent back issue kept him out for the remainder of the season as well as the World Cup.
Initially, both the club and the player attempted to manage the problem with conservative treatment, but by May, surgery became necessary. Sources indicate that his recovery is progressing smoothly, and there's a sense of optimism regarding his fitness within the Manchester United camp.
The upcoming clash with Tottenham at Old Trafford is considered a potential date for his return, although no final decision has been made. The club is cautious about rushing the 27-year-old defender back and are willing to allow him extra time to lower the risk of a recurrence.
Carrick has confirmed the positive progress:
Matthijs has been out for a long time, but he's training now, and it's fantastic to have him back with us. He won't play in the next match, but he's in good shape and moving in the right direction. At this stage, that's a huge boost for us.
The manager also provided an update on Carlos Baleba, who is yet to make his debut after his £70 million transfer from Brighton:
He has a slight ankle issue. It might take a couple of weeks, maybe three. We were aware of this earlier, so there's nothing serious.
It will be great to have him available. We're hopeful for a swift return, but I don’t want to set any specific timelines just yet.
