Erik ten Hag gives positive injury update on three Man Utd players ahead of Wolves clash

Erik ten Hag has confirmed Victor Lindelof, Tyrell Malacia and Mason Mount have all made positive steps in their respective recoveries from injury.

The trio, along with Antony Martial, are Manchester United’s only absentees through injury at present, with several key players returning in recent weeks. Harry Maguire, Lisandro Martinez, Luke Shaw, Casemiro and Christian Eriksen all came back from injuries during January, and Ten Hag’s squad has greater depth now than at any other stage of the campaign.

And the United boss could have even more options in a few weeks as Lindelof, Malacia and Mount near returns.

“Victor Lindelof is back into training, team training, and others, like Tyrell Malacia and Mason Mount, they are on the grass,” the Dutchman told United’s website.

"[They’re] not ready but I don’t think it takes long. The good thing is we have a strong squad and can now pick. 

“That is the difference with many games in the autumn, in 2023, in the period we had only 11 or 12 players. That was a challenge, every time, to put 11 players on the pitch, but now we can pick a team.”

Lindelof has not played since 6 December and underwent groin surgery last month, while Mount has been out for nearly three months with a calf issue. As for Malacia, the ex-Feyenoord defender has sat out the entire season to date due to a knee injury that required an operation in November, his second of the year.

The only other doubt for United ahead of Thursday's Wolverhampton Wanderers game is Aaron Wan-Bissaka, who missed the last match through illness. Marcus Rashford also wasn’t involved in the 4-2 win over Newport County on Sunday following his controversial night out in Belfast, but the club revealed on Tuesday that the 26-year-old will be available at Molineux as he ‘has taken responsibility for his actions’.

Speaking ahead of the trip to the West Midlands, Ten Hag didn’t want to be drawn on the issue. “So, he has taken responsibility and for the rest it’s an internal matter – case closed. Let’s focus on the game, let’s move on. I think the statement is clear and we have to focus on winning football games.”

He added: “Nothing to do with that with me. But in football you need discipline and that is on the pitch but also off the pitch because also there is a line between. Every player knows this, every professional knows this, what is required.”