Manchester United: Forgotten man Tyrell Malacia 'very close' to return after 18-month injury nightmare

Manchester United left-back Tyrell Malacia is now reportedly “very close” to making a comeback after nearly 18 months on the sidelines.

Malacia hasn’t played at all for United since May 2023 and has been out of action after undergoing knee surgery last summer.

The 25-year-old was not part of the club’s pre-season tour of the USA this year but has been pictured in first-team training at Carrington in recent weeks.

And according to Dutch outlet Voetbal International, Malacia is almost fully fit and could make his long-awaited return at the end of this month or early next month.

United’s fixtures around that period include a Premier League trip to West Ham (October 27), their Carabao Cup last-16 tie with Leicester (October 30), the league visit of Chelsea (November 3) and a Europa League game against Greek side PAOK (November 7).

Malacia became Erik ten Hag’s first signing at Old Trafford when he joined for a fee of around £15million from Feyenoord in July 2022.

Ten Hag will be desperate to have the Netherlands international back to bolster his options at left-back with Luke Shaw also injured and not involved for United since February.

Diogo Dalot has filled in there recently with summer signing Noussair Mazraoui playing at right-back, though the latter is also now sidelined after undergoing a minor corrective procedure following heart palpitations.

Last month, the under-pressure Ten Hag said of Malacia: "Of course, we want to motivate him to return, but it’s not so easy when you are so long away.

“Over a season now from an injury to return, but he’s working very hard, he’s progressing really well in this moment.

"He’s making big steps, so we think, at short notice, we can expect him in the team training, and he is a talent, it’s natural. I expect also, soon, he can return into games then."