Daley Blind has missed Manchester United’s last three matches because of ankle ligament damage he suffered in training.
José Mourinho, the United manager, had played Blind in every competitive domestic and European cup match this season until last Friday’s win over Yeovil Town in in the FA Cup, when he was not named in the matchday squad.
It has now emerged that Blind’s absence is down to an ankle problem picked up 11 days ago. The 27-year-old had to be aided off the training pitches at Carrington after being injured.
Scans showed Blind suffered mild ligament damage, which is why he has not played since the FA Cup third round win over Derby County on January 5.
United’s medical staff hope that the Dutchman, who has started just 13 matches this season, will return to full training next week, meaning he could be available for the Premier League game away to Newcastle a week on Saturday.
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Blind is more likely to make his comeback the following week, against either Birmingham City or Huddersfield Town in the FA Cup, given Mourinho’s hesitancy to play the former Ajax defender in the league.
The only absentees for tomorrow’s match away to Tottenham Hotspur are Blind, Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Eric Bailly.
“We have no more injuries,” Mourinho said. “It was a tough match at Yeovil, a difficult match, difficult conditions, but everything is good. The real headache is when you don’t have the players, so when you have so many injuries then you are in trouble. When almost everybody is available and the quality is high, these are the good problems to have.”