Matthijs de Ligt is hoping to return to the pitch for Manchester United next month after his comeback from injury was delayed by a setback. De Ligt has been out since November with a back problem, but is finally nearing full fitness.

The Dutch defender picked up a back injury in the 2-1 win over Crystal Palace on November 30. Despite the problem not being deemed serious, he has missed 15 matches since then - more than the 14 he has managed to play across all competitions in 2025/26.

In his absence, Michael Carrick has settled on the centre-back pairing of Harry Maguire and Lisandro Martinez, with the duo helping United go unbeaten in the five games since the interim manager's arrival. De Ligt won't be ready to challenge the pair for the next match, away to Everton on Monday, but is targeting March for a comeback.

The Sun reports that the 26-year-old has remained calm during the frustrating time off the pitch, although he did suffer a minor setback last month. He has been working tirelessly with the club's medical staff and has avoided the need for surgery.

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De Ligt is desperate to get back onto the pitch and prove himself as United conclude their season with just one goal in mind: finishing in the top four of the Premier League to secure Champions League qualification.

The centre-back, however, has another personal goal: to rediscover his fitness and convince Ronald Koeman that he is worthy of a place in the Netherlands' squad for the World Cup this summer. He started alongside Liverpool star Virgil van Dijk in their last World Cup qualifier against Lithuania in November, but is facing competition from Tottenham's Micky van de Ven and Manchester City's Nathan Ake.

Koeman can also call upon Brighton’s Jan Paul van Hecke and Inter Milan’s Stefan de Vrij in central defence. And having been excluded from the Dutch squad in 2024, De Ligt knows that time is running out.

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Having been eliminated from the FA Cup and Carabao Cup at the earliest stage this season and not qualified for European football, United have a limited number of games for De Ligt to play in. They have just 12 Premier League games left this season before the World Cup kicks off on June 11.

Squads will be announced a month prior to the first match, between Mexico and South Africa, on May 11, two weeks before the end of the Premier League season. It means the clock is ticking for De Ligt to prove himself for United.

Even if he is fit, De Ligt will find a difficult team to break into, with Maguire and Martinez the undisputed partnership in Carrick's 4-2-3-1 formation. United have won four and drawn one of their games under Carrick's management, keeping two clean sheets in the process.

They currently sit fourth, a point better off than fifth-placed Chelsea and three ahead of Liverpool in sixth.

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