United’s forgotten man approaching impressive club milestone after shock PL cameo

Manchester United had some unusual names in their line-up that finished the match against Newcastle United on Boxing Day. One of those names was Tyrell Malacia, who spent the second half of last season on loan at PSV Eindhoven. Malacia’s United career The Dutchman signed for the Red Devils in the summer of 2022 from Feyenoord. He played quite a regular part in the squad in his first year at the club, playing 39 matches in all competitions. Disaster struck during the pre-season of 2023 when it was announced that he had suffered a serious injury. He underwent knee surgery and missed a year and a half of action as a consequence. Malacia finally made his return to the first team in November 2024 against Bodo/Glimt in the Europa League. The full-back was sent on loan to PSV Eindhoven in the winter last year, but the Dutch club refused to sign him permanently. He also failed to secure a move away from the club this summer. Milestone The 26-year-old has rarely been in squads, but with United’s injury woes and AFCON absentees, Malacia has found a way back into the squad. Dutch site VI report that his first United appearance since January meant, “Malacia, who moved from Feyenoord to Manchester in July 2022, now has 48 appearances for United.” This is significant as “only twelve Dutch players have made fifty or more appearances for the twenty-time English champions. Malacia can reach that milestone next week.” The article argues that, due to United’s lack of options with Amad and Noussair Mazraoui on international duty, Malacia could be set to make the two appearances he needs. It still seems likely that Malacia has no future at the club in spite of his reintegration into the squad. Nonetheless, he could have the opportunity to complete an impressive milestone not every player reaches for the club. Tyrell Malacia career stats TeamAppearancesGoalsYears Active Man United4802022- PSV Eindhoven (on loan)1202025 Feyenoord 13742017-22 The Netherlands902021- Source: Wikipedia Featured image Justin Setterfield 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 Alex Browne Alex is a huge Manchester United fan, inspired by greats of his homeland such as George Best, Harry Gregg and Norman Whiteside. Alex has a Master’s degree from Queen’s University Belfast and La Universitat Rovira i Virgili in Tarragona, Spain. Having lived in the country since 2011, Alex is The Peoples Person’s Spanish football expert and is fluent in both Spanish and Catalan. He dreams of witnessing a United captain triumphantly hoisting the Premier League and Champions League trophy in the air once more.