According to the Manchester Evening News, De Ligt is nearing full recovery, and his return will be a major boost for Carrick.

Manchester United defender De Ligt is close to returning to full fitness after undergoing back surgery.

According to the Manchester Evening News, De Ligt has already featured in a behind-closed-doors friendly for Manchester United and is nearing reintegration into the squad.

It is believed De Ligt featured in Manchester United's behind-closed-doors friendly against FC Lausanne-Sport on Friday afternoon.

With most of Manchester United's first-team players on international duty, the club fielded a very young side, though the official club website confirmed that Baleba, Maguire and Cunha played.

The official website made no mention of De Ligt, and there were no photos of him in the carefully curated gallery. Given that De Ligt is in the final stages of his recovery, it is unsurprising that Manchester United do not want to create unrealistic expectations among supporters.

De Ligt last played for Manchester United on 30 November against Crystal Palace, meaning he has not featured in a competitive match for over 300 days.

The sequence of events is now clear. Amorim initially stated that De Ligt would miss only one game due to back discomfort, but he then missed the remainder of that season. Finally, in May, Manchester United decided to end his conservative treatment and undergo surgery to resolve the issue.

When a player is sidelined for an extended period, Manchester United typically refrains from giving a definitive return date, as players need to return gradually, and announcing a timeline would only create unnecessary pressure.

The club has always followed the principle of "taking whatever time is necessary," so De Ligt and other players who have been out with long-term injuries will not be rushed back.

Manchester United wants De Ligt to be fully fit before returning to competitive action. The good news is that the Dutch defender is close to being available for matchday squad selection for the first time since the Crystal Palace game.

There were earlier indications that De Ligt could return to the bench before the international break. Before the international break, he travelled with the team to London for Manchester United's match against Fulham, but was not included in the squad.

Manchester United decided before the match that De Ligt would travel with the team to aid his reintegration, but he would not be on the bench at Craven Cottage. However, the mere fact that he travelled with the team proved he was close to a return.

The friendly against FC Lausanne-Sport on Friday afternoon was the final phase of De Ligt's recovery process. This match allowed him to regain match fitness and served as a crucial test to confirm whether the defender was pain-free.

The results of this test will become clear on 10 October, when Manchester United face Tottenham Hotspur at Old Trafford, and Carrick will also be able to provide an update during the pre-match press conference.

Even if De Ligt passes his fitness assessment after the international break and is included for the match against Tottenham Hotspur, he will still need several weeks to regain full match fitness.

With first-choice centre-backs Maguire and Lisandro Martinez currently available, and Carrick having Yoro and Haven as backup options, there is no need to place immediate pressure on De Ligt.

Once De Ligt returns, Manchester United will manage him carefully. However, after missing so many matches, he is undoubtedly eager to contribute to the team.

For Carrick, having De Ligt back as an option will be a major boost. Manchester United's defensive options currently have some question marks, and it is easy to forget that De Ligt was one of Manchester United's standout performers before his injury.

Following the start of last season, he performed exceptionally well defensively and helped the team secure a point with an own goal against Tottenham Hotspur before the international break in November. At that time, he was also the only Manchester United player to have played every minute of the league season.

De Ligt's performances also earned him a call-up to the Dutch national team. He stated: "I'm 26 now, and I believe I'm entering the best years of my career, both physically and mentally. I've changed my mentality. Initially, I didn't want to make mistakes; now, I want to do as many things right as possible."

Although Amorim did not include De Ligt in a leadership group of six players, he has consistently led by example through his performances and made himself available to the press following several poor results.

After Manchester United's 1-3 away defeat to Brentford, Amorim suffered an embarrassing loss, and the team's mood was low. A steward responsible for escorting players from the dressing room to the team coach said: "Absolutely no one is stopping for interviews."

Typically, Manchester United players are reluctant to speak to the press in the mixed zone after a defeat. The steward's prediction was about to come true, but De Ligt eventually agreed to stop and say a few words.

De Ligt reiterated that players must take responsibility for their performance and reduce individual errors. Another team member, as the defender boarded the coach, commented: "He's doing really well at the moment." Manchester United need De Ligt to rediscover this form upon his return.

Traduzido por IA.

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