Michael Carrick delivers concerning news about Manchester United's defense

Manchester United boss Michael Carrick has given the most recent information regarding the status of Matthijs de Ligt, with the Dutch defender still undergoing rehabilitation for his back issue.

Matthijs de Ligt sustained an injury following the 2-1 away victory against Crystal Palace in late November. At that time, manager Ruben Amorim described the issue as "a minor injury" and predicted the Dutch defender would return in time for the match against Wolves on December 8th. However, the Portuguese strategist's assessment proved overly optimistic, as De Ligt has not even been named to a matchday squad since then.

Speaking at the pre-match press conference ahead of the round 28 fixture against Crystal Palace, manager Michael Carrick stated: “Matthijs has a back problem and the recovery process has been quite slow. We are still managing this injury. He is moving in the right direction but it's slower than anticipated. Regarding a return date, with back injuries it's very difficult to pinpoint exactly. What is certain is that he is making progress.”

De Ligt is one of four Manchester United players currently injured, alongside Lisandro Martinez, Mason Mount, and Patrick Dorgu. Mason Mount has not played since coming on as a late substitute in Carrick's first match in charge, against Manchester City on January 17th. This is one of several fitness issues the midfielder has faced since his £60 million move from Chelsea in 2023.

Carrick indicated that Mount is nearing a return as Manchester United enter the final three months of the season, with the team aiming to finish in the Premier League's top four. He said: “Mason is genuinely getting closer. He has been out on the training pitch and is nearly ready to resume normal training. He needs to be patient. Mount is an important player, so we must handle him carefully to ensure he is ready for the final part of the season.”

"The Red Devils" secured their fifth win in their last six matches thanks to a goal by Benjamin Sesko against Everton. This is the £74 million striker's third goal as a substitute since Carrick took over. Although he hasn't started a match yet, the English tactician expressed he is completely comfortable with the situation.

He said: “Everything is very positive. This is not a decision I view negatively. The whole team is playing well, the forwards are scoring goals. Ben has performed very well in many aspects. There is no issue at all. It just shows the quality Ben possesses. Whether he starts the next game or the one after isn't the most important thing, because he is contributing many positive things.”

The victory over Everton also featured a significant contribution from Harry Maguire's performance. Carrick praised the defender extensively, as Maguire awaits a contract extension decision with his current deal having only four months remaining.

Carrick said: “Harry is an impressive character. He has had a fantastic career and hopefully there is more to come. The experiences he has gone through clearly show the type of player he is. We understand Harry's capabilities. He played excellently against Everton; his experience, quality, and character are a great help to the team. He is always ready to take responsibility and is truly very important for us.”

He added: “When you are young, everything is new, you play without fear and haven't suffered many setbacks. At your peak, you feel confident but also experience ups and downs. When you enter the later stages of your career, it is experience that helps you become a better player, and we are seeing that in Harry's recent performances.”

The match between Manchester United and Crystal Palace will kick off at 21:00 tomorrow night (March 1st).