Man United’s Carrick unable to assure Matthijs de Ligt’s comeback this season
Michael Carrick has not dismissed the possibility that Matthijs de Ligt could miss the rest of the season as the Netherlands defender continues to deal with a back injury.
De Ligt has not played for Man United since their 2-1 victory over Crystal Palace on November 30.
Initially, club officials believed the injury was a relatively minor concern.
However, the 26-year-old has been out for nearly four months, and with only eight matches remaining in the current season, there is a chance he may not return until next season.
“It’s hard to say, especially since it has taken this long,” Carrick stated.
“I can’t provide any further details on it really.
“It’s one of those situations with back issues where you think it’s fine, and then suddenly it isn’t quite right.
“We’re just being patient and working through it. We’ll have to wait and see.
“We’ll certainly give him the time he needs and aim to get him back as soon as possible, but it’s really tough to predict.
“I’m not trying to conceal anything; at this moment, we genuinely don’t know, so we’ll have to wait and see.”
Before his injury, De Ligt was a regular starter in the Premier League, participating in all 13 league matches at the beginning of the season under former manager Ruben Amorim.
He has not yet resumed training and is already facing a race against time to demonstrate his fitness ahead of this summer’s World Cup.
“It’s like any injury. It’s about finding the right balance,” Carrick remarked.
“Some injuries are a bit more straightforward than others.
“It is what it is really. He’s making progress, though it’s not as rapid as we all wish, but we’ll see how it develops.”
De Ligt’s extended absence has led to speculation that he may need surgery, although Carrick is keeping details about the options being considered confidential.
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“I don’t want to discuss that at this point,” the United head coach commented.
“I think we’ll certainly do whatever we can to assist him. I believe it will be beneficial for him to return, and whatever that entails.
“We’re currently working through that, to be honest.
“Hopefully, he’ll be back sooner rather than later, and everything will be fine so we can move forward.”
