New Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim has been handed a significant boost with Tyrell Malacia making his first appearance for the club for 17 months.

Malacia, 25, started in United Under-21s’ 4-1 EFL Trophy defeat against Huddersfield Town on Tuesday night.

The Netherlands left-back, who has endured a long injury nightmare, has not played a competitive game for United since May 2023 at the end of Erik ten Hag’s first season at Old Trafford.

He looked relatively sharp in the first half, at one stage making a fine challenge in midfield to win the ball cleanly, before being substituted at the interval for Harry Amass with United easing him back slowly.

Malacia’s return comes just days after fellow left-back and another long-term injury victim, Luke Shaw, returned to first-team training.

Shaw has not played for United since February but the sight of his two principal left-backs on the comeback trail will be a welcome fillip for Amorim as he prepares to implement a new 3-4-3 system.

Ten Hag often resorted to playing Diogo Dalot at left-back while more recently Lisandro Martínez and Noussair Mazraoui have played there.

But the absence of a natural left-footer at left-back has disrupted the balance of the team and proved a persistent headache for Ten Hag.

With Amorim likely to field wing backs, the prospect of Shaw and Malacia being available soon could prove important as the squad adjust to a new tactical set up.

Malacia – a £14.7 million signing from Feyenoord in June 2022 – had knee surgery but suffered a series of setbacks and other issues that have kept him out for almost a season and a half.

Amorim spent part of his second day in charge at United meeting with players at the club’s Carrington training ground, including another defender, Leny Yoro, who is also on his way back following a lengthy injury lay-off.

The new head coach – who oversaw the departure of Ruud van Nistelrooy on Monday – also met with the likes of Shaw, Mason Mount, Kobbie Mainoo and Toby Collyer. Most of United’s first-team squad are away on international duty.

Amorim’s first game is away to Ipswich Town in the Premier League on Sunday week. Martínez has pulled out of international duty with Argentina due to fitness concerns and Amorim will hope he recovers in time for the trip to Portman Road.

It also remains to be seen if Mainoo and England defender Harry Maguire will be back from muscle injuries to face Ipswich.

Amorim also held a series of meetings with technical staff at the club on Tuesday.

United chief executive Omar Berrada believes Amorim will have a big impact. “I’m very excited about the arrival of Ruben Amorim,” he said. “We really believe that he will integrate into the rest of the structure so that we can be successful on the pitch. A perfect partnership between sport and technology.”

Analyst Eduardo Rosalino is expected to join Amorim’s backroom staff at Old Trafford alongside Emanuel Ferro, Carlos Fernandes, Adelio Candido, Paulo Barreira and Jorge Vital.

They are understood to be staying at the luxury Lowry Hotel – where Jose Mourinho spent his entire time as United manager – before they find a permanent place to live.