- The defender’s last action on the field took place last summer during his international duty
- Erik ten Hag has revealed that the 24-year-old has not trained once all season
- Has Chelsea offered Manchester United a way out of Erik ten Hag’s darkness through the departure of Mauricio Pochettino? – Listen to the It all starts! Podcast
Erik ten Hag has revealed that a forgotten Manchester United defender has not trained once this season as he struggles with a knee meniscus injury.
The Red Devils have been hampered by defensive injuries this season, resulting in Casemiro replacing the centre-back in recent weeks.
United are short-staffed at left-back, with both Malacia and first-choice Luke Shaw both spending much of the season on the sidelines.
24-year-old Malacia has not played a minute yet this season. The £13million defender’s last action came for the Netherlands against Croatia in the UEFA Nations League semi-final last June.
Ten Hag said this in conversation with the Dutch outlet Football International: ‘Tyrell Malacia hasn’t played a minute of football this season. In fact, he was never on the training field for a moment. We signed him as our backup to Luke Shaw.”
Erik ten Hag has revealed that a forgotten Manchester United defender has not trained all season
Malacia, 24, has not played a minute yet this season and his last action came last June
The Athletic reported last month that Malacia went against United’s advice when the decision was made to undergo surgery on his knee last summer after discomfort during pre-season.
United suggested a surgeon in London, but Malacia wanted the operation performed by a surgeon of his own choice in the Netherlands, they say.
The club accepted his request and the operation was carried out outside the club’s supervision.
But in the autumn, as Malacia slowly regained fitness, scans revealed small pieces of cartilage remained around the meniscus.
Malacia was given the choice of undergoing a second surgery to remove the fragments, or continuing his rehabilitation program.
In November it was decided to go under the knife again by the same surgeon, but this time under the supervision of United representatives.
However, this meant Malacia had to start his rehabilitation all over again, with United announcing in December that he had suffered a ‘setback’ but would ‘return to action early next year.’
Ten Hag claims Luke Shaw (pictured) is the ‘best left back in the world’ despite his injury problems
Ten Hag has publicly stated that he believed Malacia would be fit to return in January, hence the decision to end Sergio Reguilon’s loan spell.
But Malacia has still not returned, forcing United to deploy emergency left-backs with Shaw still out.
Meanwhile, Ten Hag has declared Shaw ‘the best left back in the world’, but insisted the Englishman will never be able to play a full season in his career again.
‘Luke Shaw is the best left back in the world. This man is so good. But he suffered a terrible injury at the start of his career and that means he will NEVER be able to play 60 games a season,” said Ten Hag.