Manchester United’s Tyrell Malacia not expected to play this season due to knee injury

Tyrell Malacia is not expected to play for Manchester United this season, potentially leaving Erik ten Hag without either of his recognised left-backs for the remainder of the campaign.

Malacia has not played since undergoing surgery on a knee injury last summer. The 24-year-old then suffered a setback during his rehabilitation which required a further procedure.

United said in December that Malacia was expected to return to action “in the new year”, but Ten Hag revealed on Friday that although the Netherlands international is back in training, he is unlikely to be in contention for selection between now and the end of May.

“I think it’s going to be difficult for him this season to be available,” Ten Hag said.

“He will fight, he’s back on the pitch, but not in the team and the process had some setbacks for him and he’s still going forwards really slowly, and the season is coming to an end.”

Malacia’s absence has been keenly felt in recent weeks as United are currently without first-choice left-back Luke Shaw, who suffered a muscle injury last month that is likely to keep him out until at least the final weeks of the season.

Shaw also missed two and a half months between August and November with a muscle injury, then a further four games between December and January.

On the 28-year-old’s likely return date, Ten Hag said: “I think it’s the same (as Malacia), maybe for the last games of the season, but we don’t expect him back this or next month.

“We talk about one of my biggest frustrations, there. You can accept in a position that a player is not available, but when two players are not available over the course of the season, that is very frustrating, because that is also very difficult to catch up as a team. We dealt with it in the best way, but of course, it is a disadvantage.”

Ten Hag also expressed regret that United allowed left-back Sergio Reguilon to return to Tottenham Hotspur following advice from the club’s medical and performance departments that Shaw and Malacia would be available in the new year.

Reguilon spent the first half of the season on loan at Old Trafford, though a break clause was activated by United in January. Reguilon has since joined Brentford on loan.

When asked whether United had made a mistake by cutting Reguilon’s loan short, he said: “I think it’s a good question. In December, I had the talks internally, with the medical and performance (staff).

“They assured me they (Shaw and Malacia) will both be fit in January and so you will have two left full-backs. Then you have a third one, so I would always have to disappoint one full-back.”