Manchester United defender Matthijs de Ligt has been pictured working at Carrington.
When Matthijs de Ligt left the pitch after Manchester United’s win at Crystal Palace at the end of November, everything seemed routine from the outside.
What nobody realised at the time was that this was the last time we would see De Ligt on the pitch this season.
The former Bayern Munich defender missed subsequent games with a back injury, which was not reported to be serious at the time. More of an inconvenience.
Five months on, De Ligt has not made a matchday squad since.
Now for the first time he has been pictured training alone at Carrington as he tries to get fit.
Matthijs de Ligt trains
Matthijs de Ligt is not training with the first team squad. He is doing individual work to try and get back to fitness.
United’s statement said that De Ligt is “working hard on his rehabilitation, under the supervision of the club’s medical staff”.
They add that he “remains upbeat and focused on returning to full fitness,” noting that De Ligt is “doing everything he can to return.”
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De Ligt latest: Reaction
Matthijs de Ligt being spotted back doing individual work is a positive sign, but only in the recent context of the hopelessness surrounding his situation.
De Ligt was originally expected to return in December. Then January. Then February, until fans just gave up on him coming back altogether.
The centre-back is now not expected to play again this season. There is no need for United to risk him either.
Seeing him train alone is bittersweet; this was the progress we wanted to see months ago, not at the end of April.
De Ligt’s World Cup dreams are all but over. Now he is working towards trying to return to pre-season.
Unfortunately, this is unlikely to be the last we hear of De Ligt’s back injury. United will have to treat him extremely carefully next season.
It is a real shame for a player who had started the season as United’s most in-form and reliable centre-back.
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