Manchester United receive huge Tyrell Malacia injury boost after 517-day absence

Tyrell Malacia is set to feature for Manchester United's Under-21s against Huddersfield Town in the EFL Trophy.

Malacia last played a competitive fixture for the Netherlands on June 14, 2023. He has not played in 517 days due to a serious knee injury but will make his return on Tuesday night. The defender has been on a long road to recovery and his involvement with the U21s will represent a huge moment as he moves a step closer to playing for the first-team again.

Malacia sustained a knee injury at the end of the 2022/23 campaign and surgery was eventually required, despite United initially looking to manage it with pain injections. After that initial operation, Malacia required another round of surgery, which explains his long-term absence.

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The 25-year-old was not involved in United's pre-season schedule but returned to light training on the grass at Carrington as medical staff planned his return. Malacia has been mentally challenged during his lay-off and fans will be delighted to see him back in action when he represents the U21s against Huddersfield in the EFL Trophy.

The left-back was welcomed back into warm-ups in training at Carrington in September and club staff admitted they were feeling more positive than ever about his progress. Malacia's contract expires in the summer of 2026, which means he will enter the final year of his contract at the end of the season, and he will be hopeful of returning to his best.

Malacia was signed from Feyenoord by former manager Erik ten Hag in 2022 and made 39 appearances in his first season, briefly starting over Luke Shaw on the left side of defence. The Manchester Evening News were the first outlet to reveal why Malacia had been absent last year and recently reported he was eyeing a return in November and December.