Manchester United defender Matthijs de Ligt returned to action in a friendly today for the first time since sustaining an injury against Crystal Palace in November 2025.
He has missed 306 days of football and was handed a start when the Red Devils took on Lausanne-Sport in a behind-closed-doors friendly at Carrington earlier today.
Carlos Baleba also started as United won 2-1. It was the Cameroonian’s first game for Man United since joining them from Brighton & Hove Albion in August.
Manager Michael Carrick used the fixture to give the first-team players not on international duty some game time. Several academy players were also involved.
United host Tottenham Hotspur at Old Trafford next Saturday and could do with all three points after winning just one of their five Premier League games this term.
Baleba was named on the bench in the 1-1 draw against Fulham before the international break.
He could get the nod to start against Spurs, and Man United need him to hit the ground running following their underwhelming start to the new season.
They play Atletico Madrid in the Champions League afterwards, and back-to-back victories would be huge for morale.
