Donny van de Beek injury: Erik ten Hag reveals full extent of Man Utd midfielder’s knee problem

Erik ten Hag has revealed Donny van de Beek will be out for the rest of the season due to the knee injury he sustained against Bournemouth earlier this month.

The Manchester midfielder had to be withdrawn just minutes before half-time due to a robust challenge from Marco Senesi, in which the Argentinian defender slipped as he jumped into the challenge. Ten Hag said immediately after the game that it ‘didn’t look good’, but hasn’t been able to give an accurate update since the problem.

Yet the United manager was asked about the problem again ahead of Saturday’s clash with Manchester City, with Ten Hag revealing he will not be able to play again for the Red Devils in the 2022/23 season.

“Yes, it is his knee. On the long term it is looking really good, he will be back for the start of pre-season. The rest of the season he is out,” revealed Ten Hag. The former Ajax boss also confirmed later in his pre-match press conference that he has not suffered an ACL injury.

The long-term diagnosis was expected for Van de Beek and means they will have limited options in the attacking midfield role for the remainder of the season. Bruno Fernandes is the only recognised player who can occupy that role, although youngster Kobbie Mainoo did play there on Tuesday.

“[My] thoughts are really with him,” Ten Hag added. “It is terrible when you are in a season and you get a bad tackle, a bad injury, it is always really disappointing and your thoughts, feelings are with the player.

“You express that, our group did that really well and we are now happy his knee in the long term is good. Donny is also happy with that. But in the same moments it’s mixed feelings, disappointment he is out of this season.

“The players are feeling we are building something good and you want to be part of it and this is what I feel - everyone wants to be part of it. So with that injury he is out so there are two sides of it but the good news is on the long term he will be back and his knee will be stable.”