As Manchester United get ready for the crunch end to the season, Erik ten Hag has provided a crucial injury update on Christian Eriksen.
The Danish midfielder has been out of action since getting injured in the game against Reading in the FA Cup. He left that game on January 29 on crutches and has been slowly working his way back.
Erik ten Hag said (via ManUtd.com):
"“Christian Eriksen is back on the pitch, not yet in the team training but I expect him in the coming week, [or] weeks, back in team training so will be available for games again.”"
This comes as a huge relief for the manager and the team. Christian Eriksen had become an indispensable member of the team after signing on a free transfer in the summer.
His ball-progressing skills from the deep had proved invaluable to Manchester United’s midfield and the manager has been trying to recreate that angle ever since.
It has even led to Bruno Fernandes starting from the deep but that takes away from his best qualities further forward. It had become further pertinent due to David de Gea’s lack of ball-playing skills.
Manager Erik ten Hag hasn’t been able to field his proper full-strength team for an extended period of the whole season.
With Christian Eriksen returning and Anthony Martial also inching closer to first-team action, Manchester United are getting healthy at just the right time. The club will resume their campaign on all three fronts of Premier League, Europa League and the FA Cup.
There could be as many as 21 more games in this gruelling season. In such a demanding schedule, every member of the squad will be needed. Already some players, like Wout Weghorst, have played more than expected but with reinforcements coming in, United could be set for a glorious end to the season.
The Red Devils will resume action in the Premier League against Newcastle on April 2, 2023, at 4.30 PM BST.