De Ligt's continuing absence means Man Utd without 'best' defensive duo for over a year | OneFootball

Matthijs de Ligt is still no closer to returning to the pitch as Manchester United continue to be without what is potentially their best centre-back pairing.

The Dutch defender has been absent since the 2-1 win away to Crystal Palace (who travel to Old Trafford this Sunday) and it seems that he is not going to return any time soon.

According to journalist Tyrone Marshall of the Manchester Evening News, De Ligt has been close to a return a couple of times only for his back pain to return. Back and hip injuries in particular are difficult to put a timescale on and there is still no date for when the 26-year-old will return.

That leaves Manchester United without what could, on paper, be their best centre-back partnership for over a year.

Neither De Ligt nor Lisandro Martínez have started a game together this season and the two have only been on the pitch at the same time for just over 10 minutes when the Argentinian, who has had his own fitness issues in recent months, came on as an 82nd minute substitute at Selhurst Park.

Before that, the Dutchman had come on as a substitute for an injured Martínez in February 2025, with the Eagles winning 2-0 in Manchester that time.

That means the last time United started both Martínez and De Ligt was in the Europa League, in a 2-0 win away to Romanian side FCSB back in January 2025.

Of course, Michael Carrick is lucky that he can count on Harry Maguire as well as younger defenders Leny Yoro and Ayden Heaven. But being without arguably the best defensive pairing will certainly not have helped United's fortunes in the past year.