Ruben Amorim could be handed a luxury that Erik ten Hag wasn’t afforded before he was sacked by Manchester United this season: a fit left-back. United have been without Luke Shaw and Tyrell Malacia this season, with both specialist left-sided defenders unavailable due to injuries. Shaw has not played a competitive match since featuring for England in the Euro 2024 final in July due to a calf injury, while Malacia, remarkably, has been out since playing for the Netherlands on June 14, 2023.
Ten Hag was forced to play side-footed full-backs Diogo Dalot and Noussair Mazraoui at left-back, while Lisandro Martinez has also shifted over from central defence. But as Amorim’s first game as United boss against Ipswich on November 24 approaches, there is good news behind the scenes at the club. Malacia has been slowly working his way back from a serious knee injury, training with the first-team at Carrington for close to two months.
And on Tuesday night, he took a big step forward, playing for the under-21s in their EFL Trophy tie away to Huddersfield Town. The 25-year-old played the first half at the John Smith’s Stadium before being replaced by Harry Amass in a pre-planned substitution when the score was level at 1-1. The League One team went on to win 4-1 against Travis Binnion’s young side, but Malacia successfully played for United for the first time in 534 days, since the 2-1 win over Fulham on the final day of the 2022/23 season on May 28.
United have proceeded very care.