Footage has been shared of Tyrell Malacia working on his return to action after 17 months out injured.
The Manchester United defender hasn’t seen a minute of action since June last year, when he last played for the Netherlands in a Nations League game against Croatia.
The last time he lined up for club side United, however, was May 2023, the last game of the Premier League season meaning he missed he entirety of last season.
Now 25, he arrived at Manchester United over two years ago with hope that he could add depth to the left back position with constant concerns over Luke Shaw’s fitness levels.
It has been the opposite story, however he is now closer than ever to getting back on the field and that was shown in a social media post showing him hitting a punching bag.
Tyrell Malacia has stepped up his training after 17 months out injured with a kickboxing session
Malacia has been training with United but missed the entirety of last season with the issue
He last played for United in May last year, with his last game for Netherlands in summer 2023
Shared to Instagram account naspysio, a shirtless Malacia could be seen hitting pads, moving freely with no strapping visible.
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He was also kicking the bag with his stronger left leg and kneeing it with his right – the opposite to the one he injured.
He has also been pictured in team training at United in recent days.
Footage of off-season training was shared by United in June, which showed Malacia training individually at the club’s training ground under the guidance of medical staff.
Since joining the club, he has played just 39 times, which came in the 2022-23 season.
He played 22 times in the Premier League as United finished third in the table, as well as nine games in the Europa League, four in the FA Cup and four in the Carabao Cup.
Erik ten Hag said in September that Malacia is ‘working very hard’ to get back to full fitness
In September, United manager Erik ten Hag said of his return: ‘Of course, we want to motivate him to return, but it’s not so easy when you are so long away.
‘Over a season now from an injury to return, but he’s working very hard, he’s progressing really well in this moment.
‘He’s making big steps, so we think, at short notice, we can expect him in the team training, and he is a talent, it’s natural. I expect also, soon, he can return into games then.’
