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 has regained nearly all his capabilities after undergoing back surgery.

According to the Manchester Evening News, De Ligt participated in a closed-door friendly for Manchester United and is close to returning to competitive matches.

It appears De Ligt featured in Manchester United's closed-door friendly against 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 all played.

The official website made no mention of De Ligt, and no photos of him appeared in the carefully curated gallery. Given that De Ligt is in the final stages of his recovery, it is unsurprising that Manchester United did 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 match due to back discomfort, but he subsequently missed the remainder of that season. Eventually, Manchester United decided in May to abandon conservative treatment and have him undergo surgery to resolve the issue.

When a player is absent for an extended period, Manchester United typically refrains from providing a clear return date, as players must return gradually, and announcing a specific date would only create unnecessary pressure.

The club has always followed the principle of "taking the time needed," so De Ligt and other long-term injured players will not be rushed back onto the pitch.

Manchester United hopes De Ligt will be fully recovered physically before returning to competitive matches. The good news is that the Dutch defender is nearly ready to be included in the squad for a match for the first time since the Crystal Palace game.

There were early signs that De Ligt could return to the bench before the international break. Ahead of the international break, he travelled with the team to London for Manchester United's match against Fulham but was ultimately not included in the matchday squad.

Manchester United decided ahead of the match that De Ligt would travel with the team to reconnect with his teammates, but would not be on the bench at Craven Cottage. Nonetheless, simply travelling with the team proved he was close to a return.

Friday's closed-door friendly against Lausanne Sport was the final stage of De Ligt's recovery process. The match not only allowed him to regain match fitness but also served as a crucial test to confirm that the centre-back was no longer experiencing pain.

The results of this assessment will become clear on 10 October when Manchester United face Tottenham Hotspur at Old Trafford, and Carrick may also provide an update at his pre-match press conference.

Even if De Ligt passes his fitness assessment after the international break and is named on the bench against Tottenham Hotspur, it will still take him several weeks to regain full match sharpness.

With the first-choice centre-back pairing of Maguire and Lisandro Martínez currently available, and Carrick having Yoro and Heylen as alternatives, there is no immediate pressure on De Ligt.

Manchester United will take things step by step with De Ligt upon his return. However, after missing so many matches, he must be eager to contribute to the team.

For Carrick, being able to select De Ligt again will be a huge asset. Manchester United's current defensive options still raise some questions, and it is easy to forget that De Ligt was one of Manchester United's standout performers before his injury.

Earlier last season, he delivered exceptional defensive displays and helped the team secure a point with a goal against Tottenham Hotspur before the November 2024 international break. At that time, he was also the only Manchester United player to have played every minute of every league match.

De Ligt's performances also earned him a recall to the Netherlands squad. He said: "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. At first, 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 his leadership group of six, De Ligt has consistently set an example through his performances and willingly faced the media after several poor results.

Following Manchester United's 1-3 away defeat to Brentford, Amorim suffered a humbling loss, and team morale was at its lowest point. Security personnel escorting players from the dressing room to the team bus said: "Absolutely nobody is going to stop for interviews."

Generally, Manchester United players are reluctant to speak to journalists in the mixed zone after a defeat. The security guard's prediction was about to come true, but De Ligt ultimately agreed to stop and say a few words.

De Ligt reiterated that players must take responsibility for their performances and reduce individual errors. Another staff member spoke about the centre-back as he boarded the bus: "He's in a great place now." Manchester United needs De Ligt to return to that form.

Traduit par IA.

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