Erik ten Hag may be pretty pleased that one of his Manchester United players was on the pitch for only 30 minutes during the October international break.
With the injuries racking up – Harry Maguire and Kobbie Mainoo were ruled out of England duty as Luke Shaw and Rasmus Hojlund suffered set-backs – the return of Victor Lindelof could prove to be pretty well timed with EFL Cup and Europa League duties set to test the limits of Ten Hag’s squad over the coming weeks.
Lindelof made his first appearance of 2024/25 a week ago. The long-serving Manchester United defender came off the bench during the 0-0 draw with Aston Villa.
Speaking to the media last week, Sweden international Lindelof admits he is putting those injury issues behind him. He suffered groin and hamstring issues last term, before picking up a toe problem in pre-season.
And Ten Hag will have been relieved as Sweden boss Jon Dahl Tommasson took a cautious approach with Lindelof’s fitness.
Especially with that Maguire blow and the continued absence of Leny Yoro potentially opening the door for the 30-year-old to re-establish himself in the Red Devils plans.
Manchester United’s Victor Lindelof plays only 30 minutes for Sweden
“He was very happy that he got to play 30 minutes,” Tommasson told a press conference after Lindelof featured for the final half hour of Friday’s 2-2 Nations League draw with Slovakia.
“It’s positive because he hasn’t played that many games in recent months. So, he is ready to help the team. He always helps the team, even if he starts or not. He is a leader. We need leaders, because we have an extremely young team.”
Lindelof was confirmed as Sweden’s captain when Tommasson was appointed last year.
With the former Benfica stopper staying on the bench for the entirety of Monday’s 3-0 win at Estonia, however, it was Tottenham Hotspur playmaker Dejan Kulusevski who wore the armband.
“He is an important player but has just come back from injury and only played 45 minutes [for Man United],” Tomasson adds. “He can come in and help the team if needed.
“I was also doubtful if [Newcastle’s Emil] Krafth could play the whole match, because he only played 60 minutes in the cup against Wimbledon. It was his first game in a month.
“So, if I would have brought Victor on instead, I could have had two players who might not have been able to play the rest of the game.”
Lindelof reacts to Man United exit links amid AC Milan interest
Man United’s number two insists that he is playing without pain again at Old Trafford.
Lindelof played down reports suggesting he could join AC Milan and thier ever-growing crop of former Premier League performers too, having been tipped to follow in the footsteps of Emerson Royal, Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Christian Pulisic.
“There have been a lot of rumours about me for a few years,” Lindelof says at a press conference. “But my only focus is to get back and play and help my team-mates at United. I don’t think much about what is written [in the media].
“I have been [at Old Trafford] for a very long time. This will be my eighth year. A lot has happened in my career and life.
“It is a place that means a lot to me. Both children were born there.”
Receive a digest of our best United content each week direct to your mailbox
