{"id":774,"date":"2026-07-24T06:56:01","date_gmt":"2026-07-24T06:56:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportconnect.com.ng\/wp\/his-return-would-never-matter-carrick-reveals\/"},"modified":"2026-07-24T06:56:01","modified_gmt":"2026-07-24T06:56:01","slug":"his-return-would-never-matter-carrick-reveals","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportconnect.com.ng\/wp\/his-return-would-never-matter-carrick-reveals\/","title":{"rendered":"His Return would never matter Carrick reveals"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"631\" height=\"804\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sportconnect.com.ng\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/img-20260716-wa00478423573110728277644.jpg?resize=631%2C804&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-773\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sportconnect.com.ng\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/img-20260716-wa00478423573110728277644.jpg?w=631&amp;ssl=1 631w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sportconnect.com.ng\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/img-20260716-wa00478423573110728277644.jpg?resize=235%2C300&amp;ssl=1 235w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 631px) 100vw, 631px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Matthijs de Ligt&#8217;s Rehabilitation: Manchester United Defender Edging Closer to Comeback<br><br>Manchester United have received another encouraging update on the recovery of Matthijs de Ligt, with the Dutch centre-back continuing to make steady progress in his rehabilitation after undergoing back surgery earlier this year.<br><br>Although the injury ruled him out of the 2026 FIFA World Cup and the start of United&#8217;s pre-season preparations, recent reports suggest that De Ligt&#8217;s recovery is progressing exactly as planned.<br><br>Positive Signs from Carrington<br><br>De Ligt has returned to Manchester United&#8217;s Carrington training complex, where he is working closely with the club&#8217;s medical and fitness staff. The defender recently shared a positive message with supporters, revealing that he feels stronger every week and is determined to return to action as soon as he is fully fit.<br><br>The club remains cautious, refusing to rush his recovery despite the importance of having one of their most experienced defenders back in the squad.<br><br>Why His Return Matters<br><br>Manchester United struggled with injuries in defence last season, forcing the team to rotate players frequently. De Ligt&#8217;s absence left a significant gap in the heart of the back line, not only because of his defensive quality but also due to his leadership and experience.<br><br>Known for his aerial dominance, composure on the ball and excellent positioning, the Netherlands international is expected to play a key role once he returns.<br><br>No Need to Rush<br><br>Medical experts and Manchester United&#8217;s coaching staff are prioritising a complete recovery rather than a quick return. Back injuries require careful management, and the club is determined to avoid any setbacks that could keep De Ligt out for even longer.<br><br>The rehabilitation programme includes strength training, mobility work and a gradual increase in football-specific exercises before he rejoins full team training.<br><br>What This Means for United<br><br>With Manchester United aiming to challenge for major honours this season, De Ligt&#8217;s return could provide a massive boost to the defence. His partnership with the club&#8217;s other centre-backs would add stability, leadership and much-needed experience.<br><br>Supporters will be encouraged by the latest updates, knowing that one of the team&#8217;s most reliable defenders is moving closer to making his long-awaited comeback.<br><br>Final Thoughts<br><br>Patience has been the key to Matthijs de Ligt&#8217;s recovery journey. Every positive update brings him one step closer to wearing the famous red shirt again.<br><br>While there is no official return date yet, the signs are encouraging. If his rehabilitation continues without setbacks, Manchester United fans could soon see De Ligt back on the pitch, ready to strengthen the defence and help the club compete at the highest level once again.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p class=\"text-justify\">Matthijs de Ligt&#8217;s Rehabilitation: Manchester United Defender Edging Closer to Comeback Manchester United have received another encouraging update on the recovery of Matthijs de Ligt, with the Dutch centre-back continuing to make steady progress in his rehabilitation after undergoing back surgery earlier [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"pagelayer_contact_templates":[],"_pagelayer_content":"","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-774","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-man-u"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportconnect.com.ng\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/774","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportconnect.com.ng\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportconnect.com.ng\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportconnect.com.ng\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportconnect.com.ng\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=774"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/sportconnect.com.ng\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/774\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportconnect.com.ng\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=774"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportconnect.com.ng\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=774"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportconnect.com.ng\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=774"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}