De Ligt’s continuing absence means Man Utd without ‘best’ defensive…

De Ligt’s continuing absence means Man Utd without ‘best’ defensive…

Matthijs de Ligt is still no nearer to returning to the pitch as Manchester United continue to be without what’s doubtlessly their best centre-back pairing.

The Dutch defender has been absent since the 2-1 win away to Crystal Palace (who journey to Old Trafford this Sunday) and it appears that he’s not going to return any time soon.

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According to journalist Tyrone Marshall of the Manchester Evening News, De Ligt has been near a return a few instances only for his again pain to return. Back and hip accidents specifically are troublesome to place a timescale on and there’s still no date for when the 26-year-old will return.

That leaves Manchester United without what may, on paper, be their best centre-back partnership for over a 12 months.

Neither De Ligt nor Lisandro Martínez have began a game together this season and the two have only been on the pitch at the same time for just over 10 minutes when the Argentinian, who has had his personal fitness points in latest months, got here on as an 82nd minute substitute at Selhurst Park.

Before that, the Dutchman had come on as an alternative choice to an injured Martínez in February 2025, with the Eagles profitable 2-0 in Manchester that time.

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That means the last time United began each Martínez and De Ligt was in the Europa League, in a 2-0 win away to Romanian aspect FCSB again in January 2025.

Of course, Michael Carrick is fortunate that he can rely on Harry Maguire in addition to youthful defenders Leny Yoro and Ayden Heaven. But being without arguably the best defensive pairing will definitely not have helped United’s fortunes in the past 12 months.

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