Erik ten Hag confirms major Leny Yoro boost as injured Man Utd star 'marks return match'

Erik ten Hag has confirmed that he expects Leny Yoro to be in contention for Manchester United “soon” amid a successful rehabilitation of his metatarsal injury. Yoro is still awaiting his competitive debut after sealing a £59million switch from Lille in the summer, and it might not be far off.

The 18-year-old defender suffered the ill-timed issue 35 minutes into United’s pre-season clash with Arsenal at Los Angeles’ SoFi Stadium.

He later underwent successful surgery, and Ten Hag insisted that the club wouldn’t rush Yoro’s return to protect him from further problems after his return.

United completed a £43m deal for Bayern Munich centre-back Matthijs de Ligt before the summer transfer deadline, which has covered for Yoro’s absence.

The Dutchman has impressed at the start of his career at Old Trafford, forming a partnership with Lisandro Martinez between Diogo Dalot and Noussair Mazraoui.

But United supporters are unsurprisingly itching to see Yoro in action, given his reputation as one of Europe’s most exciting young defenders.

And Ten Hag has offered a very positive update, claiming the starlet is on the right track to a comeback in the near future.

“Yes, he is doing very well. It is very pleasing that his rehab is going in the right direction, and I expect him soon,” Ten Hag told MUTV.

“But what I mean by soon is that he is now in the right planning process. He is in the right spot and he will return as soon as possible into the squad and then the team training.”

But Yoro is reportedly fighting to make himself available before the end of the year and is claimed to have a specific fixture in mind.

According to GIVEMESPORT, the Frenchman is desperate to be in contention by the time United travel to Arsenal on December 3.

That target allows him around two months to return to fitness, during which United are scheduled to contest at least 14 matches.

Before the Red Devils visit the Emirates Stadium, they face Premier League games against Spurs, Aston Villa, Brentford, West Ham United, Chelsea, Leicester City, Ipswich Town and Everton.

They have also been drawn against Leicester in the Carabao Cup fourth round among Europa League clashes with Porto, Fenerbahce, PAOK and Bodo/Glimt.

De Ligt has established himself as a regular starter in Yoro’s absence and will aim to maintain that status for the remainder of the campaign.

But Yoro is undoubtedly the future of Ten Hag’s defence, and he will receive an opportunity to shine once he finally overcomes his early blow.