Alex Telles makes first appearance on loan since World Cup injury

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Manchester United loanee Alex Telles made his first appearance of 2023 at the weekend for Sevilla.

The left-back suffered a knee injury at the World Cup in Qatar in Brazil’s final group game against Cameroon.

While he accomplished his dream of playing at the tournament, Telles’ involvement ended early as he was ruled out of the knockout games.

Telles was assessed by Brazil’s team doctors, with the injury reported by South American outlet R7 as a partial rupture of the lateral ligament of the right knee, with posterior cruciate. 

READ: Confirmed Manchester United transfers in, out, loan deals for January 2023

Telles returns

The good news for Alex Telles was the injury was not an ACL injury, meaning he sat out a matter of weeks rather than months.

On Sunday he was in Sevilla’s starting line-up in La Liga as they battled to a 1-1 draw with Rayo Vallecano.

Telles played as one of three centre-backs in a 5-4-1 formation, with Argentina’s Marcos Acuna lining up at left-back.

He completed all 90 minutes, making four interceptions and blocking two shots.

Back in pre-season for Manchester United, Telles featured at centre-back. But he was ultimately deemed surplus to requirements by Erik ten Hag.

Like many of United’s players, he probably would have developed and improved under Ten Hag’s management, but Tyrell Malacia’s arrival at left-back meant there was simply no room for him.

His return from injury is a positive, because he is a player United should be looking to sell on a permanent basis and recover some money on, in the summer.

It would not have helped if he had been ruled out for the season, so it is positive to see the Brazilian make a swift return.

Now we simply have to hope he plays well enough for Sevilla or another side to make a bid for him in the summer.