Manchester United head coach Erik ten Hag has said that he was "assured" by the club's medical staff that both Luke Shaw and Tyrell Malacia would be fit in January.
The Red Devils had Sergio Reguilon on loan from Tottenham Hotspur for the first half of the 2023-24 campaign, but the Spaniard was sent back to his parent club in January, with the 20-time English champions preparing for the returns of Shaw and Malacia.
Shaw has been restricted to just 15 appearances this season due to injury issues, and he is now set to be absent for the majority of the rest of the campaign due to a muscular problem which he aggravated in the clash with Luton Town on February 18.
Malacia, meanwhile, has not played this season, having been forced to undergo two separate knee operations, and Ten Hag has admitted that the Netherlands international is likely to miss the rest of the campaign.
As a result, Ten Hag is set to be without a senior left-back in the coming months, with Victor Lindelof expected to be used in that area until Aaron Wan-Bissaka returns to fitness, which could then see Diogo Dalot switch to that position from right-back.
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"In December, I had the talks internally, with the medical and performance [staff]. They assured me they will both be fit in January and so you will have two left full-backs. Then you have a third one (Reguilon), so I would always have to disappoint one full-back," Ten Hag told reporters during his press conference on Friday.
"We talk about one of my biggest frustrations, there. You can accept in a position that a player is not available, but when two players are not available over the course of the season, that is very frustrating, because that is also very difficult to catch up as a team. We dealt with it in the best way, but of course it is a disadvantage.
"In our left full back position, we've had two injuries almost over the whole course of the season. I think Liverpool is a good example. Last year they had at the same and they couldn't deal with it as well.
"I think it's going to be difficult for him (Malacia) to be available this season. He will fight, he's back on the pitch, but not in the team and the process had some setbacks for him.
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"He's still going forwards really slowly, and the season is coming to an end."
Meanwhile, when asked about Shaw, the manager added: "I think it's the same. Maybe for the last games of the season, but we don't expect him back this month or next."
Malacia was involved for his country in the UEFA Nations League last June, but he did not report for the start of pre-season training with his club and has not been in a matchday squad this term.
The defender was a regular during the 2022-23 campaign following a move from Feyenoord, making 39 appearances in all competitions, with 22 of those outings coming in the Premier League.
Malacia will now be working to be fit for the start of next season, with the Dutchman looking to put a difficult year behind him.
Matt Law
