Alejandro Garnacho is stepping up his return as Manchester United battle an injury crisis ahead of a busy season run-in.
The Argentine winger has not played since the goalless Premier League draw with Southampton on March 12 after seeing an impressive breakthrough campaign at Old Trafford disrupted by an ankle problem.
Garnacho has missed United’s last seven games across all competitions, halting his significant momentum after he enjoyed a starring role in the dramatic FA Cup fifth-round win over West Ham.
Erik ten Hag expected the popular academy graduate to be sidelined for a number of weeks after he hurt his ankle during a challenge by Saints full-back Kyle Walker-Peters, but did anticipate his return before the end of the campaign.
And Garnacho continues to step up his comeback efforts, having revealed via social media on Monday that he is taking the next steps in a bid to get back out on the pitch.
“Back with the boots,” he posted alongside a picture on his Instagram stories.
While it remains to be seen exactly when Garnacho will be ready to return, his progress will no doubt encourage Ten Hag that he is on track to potentially play an important role before the end of the season.
United are being beset by injury problems ahead of a massive week for the Carabao Cup holders in which they first travel to face Sevilla in the second leg of their finely-poised Europa League quarter-final tie on Thursday night before returning to Wembley at the weekend for an FA Cup semi-final showdown with high-flying Brighton.
Thanks to Antony’s first League goal since October and a first top-flight effort on his 100th appearance from Diogo Dalot, the Red Devils - boosted by a man-of-the-match display from Bruno Fernandes - managed to ease past struggling Nottingham Forest at the City Ground on Sunday for a third straight top-flight win that took them above Newcastle into third place in the battle for Champions League qualification as well as creating a six-point buffer to Tottenham in fifth with a game in hand.
Alejandro Garnacho is nearing a comeback 😍 pic.twitter.com/MJwgULnB9f
— utdreport (@utdreport) April 17, 2023
That triumph came despite a mounting list of absentees that already included the likes of Marcus Rashford, Luke Shaw, Scott McTominay, Donny van de Beek and Tom Heaton before Lisandro Martinez suffered a season-ending metatarsal break during the 2-2 first-leg draw with Sevilla and defensive colleague Raphael Varane aggravated a foot injury in the same game that will keep him out for weeks.
To make matters worse still for Ten Hag, Tyrell Malacia missed the win at Forest with a knee complaint and Marcel Sabitzer sustained a groin problem during the warm-up, leading to a late call-up to the XI for Christian Eriksen and a first start since his own serious ankle injury suffered in January.
United also remain without long-term absentee Phil Jones, who is not considered an option to help alleviate their growing issues in central defence.
