Four months and counting - De Ligt's wait goes on

Manchester United defender Matthijs de Ligt spent last week at the club's Carrington training ground having treatment and doing rehab work on his back injury [Getty Images] "Licha back in the squad. Harry's new contract. Good day to be a centre-half" - so crowed the Manchester United Instagram account last Tuesday lunchtime.

Try telling that to Matthijs de Ligt. Unlike Lisandro 'Licha' Martinez and Harry Maguire, and Leny Yoro and Ayden Heaven for that matter, De Ligt did not spend the week in the plush surroundings of the Carton House Hotel in Maynooth, 20 miles outside Dublin. While most United players were having a getaway, De Ligt was back in Manchester, keeping himself in shape for the point, as yet undetermined, when he gets the green light to start playing again.

The 26-year-old's absence from Michael Carrick's 25-man squad was particularly noticeable because Patrick Dorgu was in it. Dorgu is back 'out on the grass', in football speak, after his recent hamstring issue, so it was felt worthwhile to bring him along even though he was not going to be involved in Monday's Premier League encounter with Roses rivals Leeds at Old Trafford. Therein lies the problem.

As Dorgu suffered a muscular issue in the closing minutes of Manchester United's win at Arsenal in January, the club's medical staff knew what they were dealing with: eight to 10 weeks, give or take, and the Denmark international could start pushing again, hence his presence in Maynooth. De Ligt is not in the same position. Multiple sources acknowledge that despite his status as a professional athlete – and the medical facilities available to him - the Dutchman is in the same position as anyone else managing a back problem.