Manchester United are currently without a left-back with Tyrell Malacia and Luke Shaw sidelined with lengthy injury layoffs.
While Shaw have tasted action with United this season, Tyrell Malacia is yet to make an appearance for the Red Devils this season.
The Dutch and former Feyenoord defender has been on the sideline since the start of the season and is now set to miss action for the rest of the season based on a recent worrying update by Erik ten Hag.
Luke Shaw has struggled on and off the sidelines with niggling injury issues and could also miss the rest of the season for United.
Luke Shaw and Tyrell Malacia’s blow adds to United’s piling injury crisis at the defense with right-back Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Lisandro Martinez also nursing injuries.
United’s injury crisis has become glaring and concerning as the club now runs out of readily available left-backs for action.
Meanwhile, Erik ten Hag has come under the wires for his decision to initiate the break clause on Sergio Reguilon’s loan contract when the club were still in dire need of left-backs.
Asked why he decided to let go of Sergio Reguilon amidst Man United injury woes, the Dutch revealed a miscue with the club’s medical department has led to the crisis.
According to him, the club’s medics assured him, that Tyrell Malacia and Luke Shaw will be back to action in January hence his decision to allow Sergio Reguilon to return to Tottenham Hotspur in January.
“I was informed by the club’s medics that Shaw and Malacia would return in January, hence the decision to let Reguilon go to avoid squad overload,” ten Hag says.
United’s injury has crisis cut Ten Hag some slacks on the club’s underwhelming performance this season. However, the Dutch has also been blamed for an amorphous playing pattern that has contributed to the team’s misfortunes this season.