Matthijs de Ligt back at Carrington as recovery from back surgery continues

Manchester United centre-back Matthijs de Ligt has returned to the club's Carrington training base, where he is continuing his individual rehabilitation after undergoing back surgery. According to the Manchester Evening News, the 26-year-old Dutchman has been working on a separate programme and was absent from the official team photo ahead of pre-season. De Ligt had the operation in May. He had hoped to delay the procedure long enough to feature in the final stretch of last season and earn a place in the Netherlands squad for the 2026 World Cup, but persistent back issues forced him to go under the knife. The defender last played in November. United are confident the surgery has resolved the problem completely, and de Ligt’s recovery is on schedule — he is expected to return to full training with no physical restrictions.