United star performer’s return timeline revealed, perfect timing for Carrick as he pushes for CL qualification – report

Manchester United are set for a major injury boost, just in time for the business end of the Premier League season. It is well known that INEOS have set Champions League qualification as one of the aims for the season. And for that to materialise, Michael Carrick needs all hands on deck, given how thin the squad is. The caretaker head coach is already without Matthijs de Ligt, Mason Mount, and Patrick Dorgu. It was recently relayed by The Peoples Person that Harry Maguire has rejoined training after an injury scare following the West Ham game. Matthijs de Ligt long-term injury Now, fellow defender Matthijs de Ligt is also set for a return to action next month, according to The Sun. That effectively means he is in contention to feature against Crystal Palace on March 1. The Dutchman has been out of action since December. Initially, he was expected to be out for a short while, but he has ended up on the sidelines for more than two months. Suffering from a recurrent back injury, the Red Devils opted not to take any chances and chose not to rush him back. It has been a difficult period for the Netherlands international, whose chances of making the Dutch World Cup squad also hang in the balance. Return timeline set However, The Sun have claimed that the 26-year-old has remained positive and continued his recuperation at Carrington, while avoiding the need to go under the knife. “MANCHESTER UNITED defender Matthijs de Ligt has kept a positive outlook during his three-month injury layoff. “De Ligt has set his sights on a return to action next month, hoping to boost Michael Carrick’s decisive push to secure Champions League next season. “SunSport understands that De Ligt suffered a minor setback last month, just as he appeared to be closing in on a return. Great timing for Carrick “Although his return has stalled, the Netherlands international has managed to avoid surgery and is continuing his rehab with club medics at Carrington. “Well-placed sources suggested that De Ligt has not hit the panic button, even though his long-term injury could jeopardise his place at the World Cup this summer.” Before his untimely injury, Matthijs de Ligt was one of the standout performers under Ruben Amorim. Hopefully, he can carry on in the same vein under Carrick as well. Feature image Alex Livesey via Getty Images The Peoples Person has been one of the world’s leading Man United news sites for over a decade. Follow us on Bluesky: @peoplesperson.bsky.social Ayantan Chowdhury After failing to become a professional footballer, Ayantan switched to the next best thing: writing about the greatest football club in the world. He has extensive sports journalism experience, having worked for over 10 years in the Indian sports media industry, writing for the biggest newspapers and websites. Currently an editor at The Peoples Person. You can follow him on X: @ayantanc_25