Manchester United star ‘may have played his last game for the club’ amid injury concerns

A combination of long-term injury problems and new defensive reinforcements has pushed Eric Bailly considerably far back in the pecking order at Old Trafford - leading one expert to query if he will play for the Red Devils again.

Medical expert Ben Dinnery, who runs the Premier Injuries wesbite, told Football Insider that he reckons recent injury troubles off the back of the African Cup of Nations might be the final straw for his Manchester United career.

Bailly returned to Carrington earlier this month after his Ivory Coast national side were knocked out of the competition by Egypt in the round of 16 on penalties, in which Bailly missed the decisive spot kick.

Not for the first time in his six years at Manchester United, Bailly has suffered another injury which has been described as a ‘swollen ankle’.

The 27-year-old has been heavily struck by season-halting injuries on a consistent basis since joining from Villarreal in 2016.

In total, Bailly has missed 559 days and 71 games due to fitness issues.

The defender has also only managed a handful of appearances this term, due to the combination of his worrying injury status and new defensive signings like Raphael Varane.

Dinnery reckons his current injury lay-off might only last “one or two weeks” but it might spell the end of his time at the club.

“He’s not back in training yet and he has been heavily linked with a move away from Man United,” he told Football Insider.

“When you look at who the club has defensively, it seems that Phil Jones has risen above Bailly in the pecking order.

“I don’t think his absence is something Ralf Rangnick will be too concerned about as he has Maguire, Varane, Lindelof, and Jones ready for selection.

“It could even be a question of if and not when he’ll be back, he may not play for United again,” he said.

Eric Bailly’s current contract at United expires in 2024.