Carrick smiles as Manchester United receives latest good news, competing for a top 4 Premier League finish to secure a UCL spot.
On 16 Feb 2026 GMT+7, The Sun, a prominent UK media outlet, reported the latest positive news for Manchester United, currently 4th in the Premier League, ahead of their next match on Monday, 24 Feb 2026 GMT+7, an away game against Everton.
The report states that Dutch international defender Matthijs de Ligt will recover from his back injury and return to play for Manchester United in March, giving interim manager Michael Carrick more options in team selection.
Matthijs de Ligt has missed 15 matches for Manchester United after sustaining an injury during the Premier League game where they defeated Crystal Palace 2-1 on 30 Nov 2025 GMT+7. Last month, a recurrence of the injury delayed his comeback further.
However, de Ligt's injury is not severe enough to require surgery. He is currently undergoing rehabilitation with the club's medical team at Carrington. Reliable sources say he remains calm, despite concerns that the long-term injury might affect his chances of representing the Netherlands in the 2026 World Cup.
This development means Manchester United is close to gaining an additional option as they chase a UEFA Champions League spot next season. Currently, they have 45 points, leading 5th-place Chelsea by 1 point and 6th-place Liverpool by 3 points.
