Manchester United receive truthful update on Tyrell Malacia’s injury, worst-case scenario explained

Manchester United have received a truthful update on Tyrell Malacia’s injury as the worst-case scenario has been explained.

Tyrell Malacia has been sidelined since the conclusion of the 2022/23 season due to multiple surgeries on a persistent knee issue that has troubled him since joining Manchester United.

The Dutch left-back, who was signed from Feyenoord for around £13 million in the summer of 2022, spent his debut season competing with Luke Shaw for the starting left-back position.

However, this long-term injury has serious impacted the Dutchman and has also been a big blow for Erik ten Hag, who has had left-back problems in the last year.

Malacia has been making solid progress in his recovery from injury and has recently been taking part in the opening part of team training sessions at Carrington before going back to his individual training plan.

Ten Hag has claimed that he thinks the defender will be back in action soon, however, there could be even more hurdles for Malacia and United.

Leading Premier League injury expert Ben Dinnery has claimed that Malacia’s return to the side could take longer following his lengthy spell on the sidelines, especially if Luke Shaw makes his own return from injury soon.

“I think he will be gradually integrated,” Dinnery said. “I think we’re probably looking at around about maybe 17 months. I’m sure it was around July last year when we last saw him.

“We’re approaching around 15 or 16 months now. Like I said, he could be in and around that first-team squad and training with the group and getting that experience, but is he going to be pushing consistently for a start in that first team? Highly unlikely, particularly if you get some of those other players back in that United team.”

“Reintegration in the team needs to be managed very, very carefully,” he added. “Your question then is, does that coincide with the return of Shaw? Is he a player who would ordinarily be considered your first-choice left-back when everybody’s fit? Probably not.

“His opportunities within that first team and certainly minutes wise are probably going to be limited anyway, just in terms of depending upon the personnel available within that United squad.”

Importantly, Dinnery states that Malacia could even be on the fringes of the squad until the season is over, with a full pre-season to prepare him to return for the 2025/26 campaign.

“Ultimately, do I see Malacia being able to perform regularly at optimum levels in that United first team when everybody else is sort of fit and available on that left-hand side? Unfortunately not,” he added.

“It could be that we see him on the fringes of that first team squad, really just getting a feel of being back in that environment and then ultimately getting a really solid preseason under his belt in 25/26 and then really sort of pushing and competing for a spot in that team.”

That seems like a worst-case scenario for the fullback and it would certainly be upsetting for Malacia if he is not able to return to the pitch soon.

He had ups and downs during his debut campaign at United but there was a lot of promise and that has almost been thrown away due to this injury.

Many fans will be hoping that they can welcome Malacia back to the Old Trafford pitch as soon as possible, but there should also been understandable caution about rushing the player back into the fold.

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