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Forgotten Manchester United defender Axel Tuanzebe makes his long-awaited return to first-team training after missing six months with a back problem… and his last appearance came on loan at Napoli 376 days ago.
- Axel Tuanzebe has been injured since July and this Monday he returned to training
- The defender’s last United appearance was almost two years ago against Villareal.
- He faces strong competition to gain playing time against other centre-backs.
Manchester United centre-back Axel Tuanzebe has returned to first-team training after being sidelined since July with a back injury.
Tuanzebe returned to the club in the summer after loan spells with Aston Villa and Napoli last season, but has not played a game in over a year.
His last appearance was on 13 January 2022, when he came on as a substitute for Napoli in their Coppa Italia loss to Fiorentina.
Defender Axel Tuanzebe has been out for the past six months with a back injury.
Now the 25-year-old is back in training with his United teammates, as he was shown on the pitch on Monday taking part in drills.
Tuanzebe returned to solo training last month and according to the Manchester Evening Newsused a zero-gravity treadmill as part of a personal training plan to get back into shape.
The defender hasn’t played for the club in almost two years (he last saw action in their 2021 Europa League final loss to Villareal) and will face stiff competition for playing time.
Tuanzebe appeared in good spirits alongside Brandon Williams when he returned to training.
The defender is pressured by Facundo Pellistri (left) during a drill in Carrington on Monday.
Raphael Varane and Lisandro Martinez have established themselves as the first-choice centre-back pairing, Harry Maguire and Victor Lindelof currently provide depth and even Luke Shaw has effectively filled in for the role of late.
Tuanzebe was with United on their pre-season tour last summer until he left Australia with a ‘personal problem’, with teenager Will Fish taking his place in the team.
The academy graduate, who has dealt with extensive injury problems before, didn’t see much playing time on his loan pair last season.
He started eight games in all competitions for Villa before receiving just one start for Napoli.