Manchester United defender Tyrell Malacia made his long-awaited return to action on Monday, playing 45 minutes for the club’s Under-21 side in a 4-1 defeat to Huddersfield Town.
The 25-year-old left-back had been out of action since June 2023, when he suffered a knee injury during the Netherlands’ Nations League final loss to Croatia.
Initially expected to be a straightforward recovery, Malacia’s injury required two separate surgeries, forcing him to scrap an attempted comeback in February.
His return has been closely monitored by Manchester United’s technical director Jason Wilcox, head of academy Nick Cox, and first-team coach Darren Fletcher, who were all present at the game.
The £13 million signing from Feyenoord made 39 appearances for United in the 2022-23 season, his debut campaign at the club. During Monday’s game, Malacia demonstrated glimpses of his ability, though he appeared cautious in his first outing back. He completed the opening half before being replaced by Harry Amass.
Early in the match, Malacia made a trademark surging run down the left flank but opted to pass backward rather than take risks.
As the game progressed, he settled into his role, even exchanging a light-hearted gesture with Huddersfield forward Rhys Healey after a physical tussle.
Despite the positive step forward, questions remain about how soon Malacia will be ready for first-team action. United’s Under-21s are scheduled to play again on 19 November in the National League Cup against Altrincham, a fixture that could serve as another test for the Dutch international.
Malacia’s return coincided with new Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim’s first visit to the Carrington training ground.
Amorim, who will lead the team for the first time against Ipswich Town on 24 November, spent the day meeting some of the club’s injured senior players, including Luke Shaw, Mason Mount, Kobbie Mainoo, Leny Yoro, and Toby Collyer, all of whom were working on their rehabilitation.
Amorim’s task of reinvigorating the squad is complicated by the limited preparation time, as most international players will not return until midweek. However, Malacia’s return could provide a welcome boost to the team’s defensive options as they gear up for a demanding run of fixtures.
