Rúben Amorim could be set to trial Tyrell Malacia in a new position amid the Dutchman’s return to Manchester United training sessions.
Tyrell Malacia has been reintegrated into Manchester United’s first-team squad after failing to find a route out of the club last summer.
Rúben Amorim deemed Malacia as surplus to requirements alongside four other players at the beginning of pre-season, and all five were barred from training at Carrington at the same time as other first-team players.
Despite talks with clubs such as Lille, AS Roma, Elche, and Saudi Pro League sides, an agreement could not be reached, and Malacia remained at the club beyond the end of the 2025 transfer window.
Having trained for the last month or so with the club’s U21s team, Malacia has been performing “off the charts” and will resume training with the first team as they prepare to face Sunderland.
Malacia could be set for a new position amid training return
Malacia’s first season at United saw the defender play 39 times across all competitions. However, he sustained a knee injury and subsequent surgery complications that kept him out of action for 17 months. He then made his return in December 2024, but was quickly loaned to PSV Eindhoven.
Speaking back in January 2025, Amorim was asked about Malacia and where the now-26-year-old could fit into his system and what his future could look like at Old Trafford.
The head coach admitted at the time that Malacia’s skill-set was not best suited to the wing-back role, but that he may instead be a possibility as part of the side’s trio of centre-backs.
“We will see. What I know is that it’s really hard on Malacia,” Amorim commented. “It is a long time without playing, and then it’s hard to play a lot of games.
“A player like him is a full-back. He played with the national team outside and inside, but sometimes in this system, sometimes it’s hard for him because he’s not so offensive.
“He can play as one of the three defenders, if we have more possession and more control of the games. It’s a really difficult context for him. But he’s our player and we are going to help him.”
Malacia could be wildcard option at centre-back
Over the course of the campaign so far, Amorim’s centre-backs have become a major talking point. In his 47 fixtures in charge at Old Trafford, he has substituted at least one of his back line in 41 fixtures, which some feel is far too unsettling.
A particular topic of conversation has been Luke Shaw, who has so far operated at a left centre-back but has failed to impress many due to multiple lapses in concentration.
If Amorim sees Malacia as a potent option as part of the back three, this could very much become a wildcard option for the United head coach.
Shaw has previously spoken about the fact that he feels his best position is left wing-back, so amid the return of Lisandro Martínez, the English defender could be moved to compete with Patrick Chinazaekpere Dorgu on the left flank, while Malacia slots in as a back-up left centre-back to compete with Martínez.
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