Manchester United have received a timely boost ahead of their Champions League trip to Atletico Madrid, with defender Matthijs de Ligt back in the squad after a lengthy absence due to a back injury.
The Red Devils travel to the Estadio Metropolitano on Tuesday for matchday two of the Champions League league phase, looking to build on the momentum from their opening win. Michael Carrick's side began their European campaign in style, thrashing Sabah 4-0 at Old Trafford in their first outing at this season's top continental competition.
De Ligt has been sidelined for almost a year after picking up the back problem during a match against Crystal Palace. The Dutch centre-back's recovery has been a gradual process, but confidence grew at the club's Carrington training base after he featured in a behind-closed-doors friendly against sister club Lausanne-Sport. United have now confirmed that De Ligt will be included in the travelling party for the clash with Atletico Madrid.
The club are, however, expected to exercise caution with the player given the length of his lay-off. De Ligt had already travelled with the squad for the recent Premier League trip to Fulham before the international break, but did not feature in that matchday squad, suggesting his reintroduction is being carefully managed.
While the return of De Ligt represents welcome news for Carrick, United have simultaneously been hit by a fresh double injury concern. Both Kobbie Mainoo and Luke Shaw have been left out of the squad travelling to Spain after picking up knocks during Sunday's 1-1 draw with Tottenham at Old Trafford. Carrick confirmed the setback in his pre-match press conference on Monday evening, revealing that the pair would miss the trip to the Spanish capital as a result of the injuries sustained in that fixture.
The draw with Tottenham did little to ease the mounting pressure on Carrick, whose side were pegged back late on by Dominic Solanke's equaliser despite Roberto De Zerbi's Spurs side playing with ten men for a significant portion of the match. That result leaves United languishing in 12th place in the Premier League table, a position that reflects what has been a disappointing start to the domestic campaign for the Manchester club.
With scrutiny intensifying around Carrick following the stuttering domestic form, Tuesday's Champions League assignment in Madrid takes on added significance. A positive result against Atletico, who present a formidable test on their own turf, would go some way to easing concerns about United's overall trajectory this season and provide much-needed momentum heading back into Premier League action.
The availability of De Ligt, even in a limited capacity, offers Carrick greater options at the back for a fixture that will require defensive solidity against a dangerous Atletico attack. Having already secured maximum points against Sabah, United will be eager to continue their perfect start in Europe, even as they continue to grapple with inconsistency closer to home.
Attention will now turn to whether De Ligt is deemed ready to feature in some capacity against Atletico Madrid, or whether the club's caution will see him held back further as he continues his long road to full match fitness following such an extended absence from first-team action.
Based on reporting from standard-football.