Manchester United full-back Tyrell Malacia has missed out on their pre-season tour of the USA and may also miss the friendly fixtures in England and Ireland.
United’s pre-season tour in America is coming to an end as they play their last friendly there against Borussia Dortmund at Las Vegas. They then travel back to Manchester to face Lens and will finish their pre-season campaign against Athletic Bilbao in Dublin, Ireland.
Malacia has been absent from United’s tour due to an unknown injury picked up after returning back to training in Manchester after a 6-week break.
The club initially announced that the Dutchman would not travel with the squad to the US but no update on the injury was given. It now looks as though the 23-year-old is in a race against time to be back fit for the start of the Premier League season.
Anthony Martial and Dean Henderson are two other United players who have missed out on the pre-season fixtures through injury while youngsters Amad Diallo and Kobbie Mainoo have picked up injuries on the tour.
Malacia primarily played the role of Luke Shaw’s understudy in his first season at United in the 2022/23 season and impressed many with how quickly he adapted to the demands of the Premier League.
Also Read: Kobbie Mainoo injury update: United youngster suffers pre-season blow
He made 39 appearances for the club last season and perhaps played more often than expected as Shaw was covering for Lissandro Martinez at centre-back on many occasions.
The Dutchman’s injury has meant Erik Ten Hag has had to use Brandon Williams on many occasions as Shaw’s replacement in the second halves of their pre-season games.
This is potentially an annoyance for Ten Hag as Williams is reportedly on the transfer list as the manager does not see him as part of his plans, whereas Malacia is going to be Shaw’s deputy for the upcoming season as well but is missing out on crucial fitness and training programmes.
But, some other reports in the UK have suggested that Malacia’s injury is not a serious one but the manager along with United’s medical staff decided that the left-back should stay back in Manchester and focus on his recovery to be fit in time for the start of the season on August 14th.
The defender was Ten Hag’s first signing at the club, joining from boyhood club Feyenoord last season and was the only new signing to go on United’s pre-season tour this time last summer.
