De Ligt Training at Carrington With Club Confident Back Issue Is Resolved | OneFootball

Matthijs de Ligt is back at Carrington and working through an individual recovery programme following the back surgery he underwent in May, according to the Manchester Evening News – though the 26-year-old remains absent from United’s main pre-season group as the new campaign approaches.

The MEN reports that de Ligt was not pictured among the senior players who returned to United’s training complex on Thursday, but confirmed he is on-site and following a tailored rehabilitation plan. The centre-back had also been completing fitness work abroad during the summer before resuming activity at Carrington.

Crucially, there is reported optimism inside the club about his trajectory. According to the Manchester Evening News via The Peoples Person, there is confidence at United that his back issue is now behind him following the operation.

A Defender Yet to Feature Under Carrick

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De Ligt missed the entire second half of the 2025-26 season after the back problem worsened to the point where surgery became necessary. The issue also ruled him out of the 2026 World Cup, with a Netherlands call-up never a realistic prospect once the operation was confirmed for May.

It means de Ligt has yet to play a single minute under Michael Carrick. That context makes his return to fitness more than a routine injury update – it is effectively his debut under a new manager still working out his best defensive combinations.

The next meaningful marker will be whether de Ligt transitions from individual work to full team training, which would signal a competitive return is within reach. An involvement in the opening weeks of 2026-27 looks unlikely given the pace of recovery, though the club’s reported confidence is at least encouraging.

United’s Defensive Depth Remains a Concern

De Ligt’s absence compounds a pre-existing problem. Lisandro Martinez, Luke Shaw, and Harry Maguire all carry significant injury histories, and according to the MEN, all the focus at United this summer is on strengthening the midfield – with no planned additions to the backline despite those defensive concerns.

It goes without saying that another defensive injury before de Ligt is back in contention would leave Carrick dangerously short. United’s centre-back options cannot afford that kind of disruption right now.

For now, De Ligt’s presence at Carrington – even in a limited, individual capacity – is the first concrete sign that the Dutchman is moving in the right direction after a miserable end to last season.