Manchester United centre-back Eric Bailly says he is hoping for better injury luck in 2023.
Bailly made his first start last night since October, for Marseille, in their win over Montpellier.
It was just third third Ligue 1 start of the season since joining the French side on loan in August.
Bailly’s previous start lasted just 44 minutes against PSG, when he went off injured.
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Eric Bailly hoping to stay injury free
Injuries have plagued Eric Bailly’s career since he joined Manchester United back in 2016.
The Ivory Coast international was surplus to requirements at Old Trafford in the summer and was sent out on loan.
He is currently under contract until 2024, and United need him to stay fit if there is going to be a chance of offloading him permanently in the summer.
Le Phoceen report Marseille have a purchase option as part of the loan move – but only if Bailly participates in 50 per cent of the Ligue 1 games.
He has currently played in just six out of 17, so he is currently behind this mark.
Bailly played 66 minutes against Montpellier last night in a 2-1 win. His substitution was just a precaution, with a run of fixtures upcoming.
Speaking to Foot Marseille, Bailly said: “Are the problems behind me? Every time I said that to myself, I relapsed.
“I hope that I’m not going to come back to these things, and that this injury lets me go and that I’m physically good to help the team. You have to invest in your body.”
Given his past record, Bailly needs a bit of a miracle to stay injury free between now and the end of the season, but that shouldn’t prevent him being positive.
Marseille are in third place in Ligue 1 and Bailly could play a vital role in helping them secure Champions League qualification for next season, if he can stay fit.
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