De Ligt's Ordeal: Four Months Out with No End in Sight

Manchester United defender Matthijs de Ligt remains sidelined, having been out of action for over four months due to a persistent back injury. This ongoing issue has kept him at Carrington for treatment while the rest of the squad was on a training camp in Ireland.

While the club recently celebrated Lisandro Martinez's return and Harry Maguire's contract renewal on social media, even describing last Tuesday as a "good day to be a centre-back," the reality for the 26-year-old Dutchman was starkly different. The Ajax academy product did not join the team's training camp at Carton House Hotel, near Dublin, instead remaining in Manchester to continue his rehabilitation process.

De Ligt's absence was further highlighted by the presence of Patrick Dorgu within the squad led by Michael Carrick. The left-back, also recovering from an injury, traveled with the team despite not being fit for Monday's match against Leeds. The interim manager's explanation was straightforward: "The reason he didn't come, and Patrick did, is that Patrick is a bit further along in his recovery phase."

The key difference lies in the nature of their injuries. In Dorgu's case, who suffered a muscle problem in January against Arsenal, the medical department estimated an eight to ten-week recovery period. However, the former Juventus centre-back's back injury is unpredictable. Club sources, according to the British press, admit that, like anyone with similar issues, he experiences good days and bad days, making it impossible to set a definitive return date.

The defender hasn't played since the 2-1 victory over Crystal Palace on November 30th. At the time, Ruben Amorim, then still at the helm of the Red Devils, downplayed the situation, telling Sky Sports it was "a small thing" and that he expected him back for the next game. However, that prediction did not materialize, and the player, who was a key figure for Manchester United at the start of the season, remains out of competition.

Despite assurances from close sources that De Ligt remains optimistic about returning before the end of the season, time is running out. With the team close to securing a spot in the next Champions League, it's unlikely Carrick will risk fielding players who aren't at 100 percent.

Surgery is not currently an option being considered by either the player or the club. The example of Bournemouth's Tyler Adams, who took almost four months to return to a starting role after back surgery, serves as a cautionary tale. When asked about De Ligt's activities at Carrington, the Manchester team's coach was direct: "Just treatment and rehabilitation."

For now, frustration and waiting continue for the Dutch international, whose chances of playing again this season diminish with each passing day: "It's a different treatment and different exercises. He's obviously in the gym working, but he's not ready for the pitch yet."