Axel Tuanzebe is finally closing in on a return to Manchester United action after a lengthy spell on the sidelines.
Tuanzebe, 22, has not featured in 10-months having suffered a serious foot injury last December.
It’s been a difficult year for the academy graduate, who was beginning to stake a claim for a first-team spot under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer before his long-term setback.
But as per the Telegraph‘s report last week, Tuanzebe is now back in training at Carrington and has been working hard during the international break to gain sharpness.
It is added that Tuanzebe is now ready to challenge for a first-team spot again as he looks to make up for lost time.
Solskjaer’s three preferred centre-backs Harry Maguire, Victor Lindelof and Eric Bailly have all made woeful starts to the season and some fans were hoping that Tuanzebe could return as early as this Saturday for the trip to Newcastle United.
But after such a long period out, Tuanzebe needs to ease back in and could initially make a return for Neil Wood’s U23 side where he featured prominently before getting his first-team chance.
According to the Manchester Evening News, he could make his comeback in Saturday’s U23 fixture against Arsenal.
The MEN note that the centre-back would prefer to get game time at U23 level meaning this Saturday’s game would be perfect to build up some match fitness.
The Premier League game against Newcastle has come too soon for Tuanzebe but we wouldn’t be surprised if he soon gets his chance to make his mark in United’s deflated defence.
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Tuanzebe cannot be worse than Maguire, Lindelof or Bailly. I would play him even if he had a broken leg before those three fraudsters. Where’s Teden Mengi? Can he not take the CB position and perhaps someone from the women’s team as well?
If Tuanzebe had not been injured last season, I believe he would have forced his way into the team before the March quarantine, as I think he has a higher ceiling than Bailly, Lindelof & Maguire.
He has to be eased back, but with no more than a couple of games for the U23s.
With confidence so low at central defence, Maguire seems to need a break, for his benefit later on in the season.
As Rojo apparently trained like a demon on his return, a risky short-term option could be Bailly/Rojo (left sided balance, aggression and pace) and Lindelof as 3rd CB/DM with McTominay, OR the safer option, starting games with Lindelof/Bailly and 2 DMs – just for 2-3 games. That Bailly is a must at the back says it all, but he is, until Tuanzebe is ready.
By then Maguire could be mentally refreshed, but regardless, Tuanzebe should come in as 3rd CB/DM, a position he would excel in whilst preparing for his longer-term CB pairing.
Tuanzebe & Mengi have bright futures, so may need patience, but United must bring in a top CB in the summer.
With (say) Upamecano or equivalent the focus in the summer and the departure of Jones & Rojo, 1-2 of Maguire, Bailly & Lindelof, who have much to prove, should also become surplus.