Man Utd star finally has return date after 18 months out in injury nightmare

Tyrell Malacia is ‘very close’ to making his return for Manchester United after almost 18 months on the sidelines.

The Dutch full-back became the first signing of the Erik ten Hag era in the summer of 2022, impressing in his first season in English football where he started 29 games in all competitions.

His last game for the club came in May 2023, missing the entire 2023-24 season with a major knee injury that required surgery.

Malacia did not join the United squad in the US for their pre-season tour but has been pictured back in first-team training this season.

His absence from the team has been part of a major issue at left-back with Luke Shaw also enduring an injury-hit campaign last season, still to play this term.

But Voetbal International report Malacia is now close to making his return. While Saturday’s game against Brentford comes too soon, the report states he will be playing again at the end of October or the beginning of November.

That timeline suggests possible returns away to West Ham United (27 October), at home to Leicester City in the Carabao Cup (30 October) or the visit of Chelsea (3 November).

Speaking last month, ten Hag said of Malacia: ‘Of course, we want to motivate him to return, but it’s not so easy when you are so long away.

‘Over a season now from an injury to return, but he’s working very hard, he’s progressing really well in this moment.

‘He’s making big steps, so we think, at short notice, we can expect him in the team training, and he is a talent, it’s natural. I expect also, soon, he can return into games then.’

Diogo Dalot has deputised at left-back this season and for large swathes of the 2023-24 campaign. Noussair Mazraoui’s absence however is likely to see him revert to his more natural role on the right this weekend.

With Malacia and Shaw not ready for the visit of the Bees on Saturday, Lisandro Martinez or Jonny Evans could be tasked with filling in.