With Manchester United having won their first trophy since 2017 last month - overcoming Newcastle in the Carabao Cup final at Wembley - the club's supporters have had a lot to smile about in recent weeks. It got even better when Christian Eriksen issued a positive injury update on Wednesday.
The Danish midfielder took to Instagram to provide fans with an update on his comeback from an ankle injury - revealing that he is back wearing football boots once again after two months out on the sidelines. The 31-year-old was forced to leave Old Trafford on crutches in January after being on the wrong end of Andy Carroll's reckless challenge during United's 3-1 FA Cup win against Reading.
It was confirmed that Eriksen would be out for up to three months, although it was initially feared that the former Tottenham and Brentford man would not play again before the end of the campaign. His diagnosis - and the absence of Donny van de Beek - led to Erik ten Hag signing Marcel Sabitzer on loan from Bayern Munich in January, with the Reds clearly struggling for options in the middle of the park.
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Clearly, it is going to take some time for Eriksen to regain his fitness and form after a long spell out of the side, but the fact he is back on the grass comes as a major boost for Ten Hag and his teammates. The United manager suggested the Dane was 'about to come back' - and while many fans will hope that his return comes in United's first match back after the international break on April 2, it would be a surprise to see him play much of a role, if any at all.
"He won’t be ready for Sunday, but he will be ready in April," Ten Hag revealed ahead of his side's 3-1 win against Fulham. "He’s about to come back."
Eriksen had formed a solid partnership with Casemiro in midfield, with Bruno Fernandes starring just in front of them. While Sabitzer has done a job since arriving at Old Trafford, he has not quite reached the levels that United's No.14 managed prior to his injury. Meanwhile, Fred and Scott McTominay look more comfortable when playing alongside the 31-year-old, rather than in his absence.
Although Ten Hag will not rush Eriksen's comeback, the fact Casemiro is serving a four-match suspension means the Reds are particularly light in midfield at the minute. The Brazilian enforcer has already missed one match - the FA Cup win over Fulham on Sunday - but he will be absent for the next three Premier League matches as well.
Missing the Carabao Cup final will have come as a blow to Eriksen, so he will be desperate to play an integral role throughout the remainder of the campaign. There is a good chance that United could end the season with two more trophies this term, with Ten Hag's men hunting down more silverware during his fruitful debut season at Old Trafford.
There is still so much to play for, and despite the Reds falling further behind in the title race, they take on Brighton in FA Cup semi-finals and play Sevilla in the last eight of the Europa League next month. They are currently 19 points behind league leaders Arsenal, but the primary focus is fending off the likes of Tottenham and Newcastle, both of whom will be pushing for a top-four place after the international break.
Eriksen has made 31 appearances for United this season, registering two goals and nine assists. Prior to his ankle injury in January, the Danish midfielder had missed just one game all campaign - the 0-0 draw with Newcastle in October. He quickly became one of Ten Hag's most trusted lieutenants, so it is credit to his teammates that the Reds have coped well in his absence.
United have, however, missed Eriksen. That is clear. His ability to dictate play and control possession helped the players around him to thrive, and the Reds have, on occasions, looked nervy on the ball in certain games in recent weeks. Not only will the Dane's return to action give Ten Hag more options in midfield, but it will also give his teammates a lift in the final few weeks of the season.
Should United reach the finals of both the Europa League and FA Cup, they will play 19 more times this term. The Reds have already played 46 matches this season, and had it not been for his injury, Eriksen would have been up there with the likes of Marcus Rashford and Fernandes in terms of the most appearances in all competitions.
Ten Hag's men have shown that they are capable of tasting success without Eriksen in the side, but come the business end of the season, his return to fitness could be vital in United achieving their quest to lift more silverware and secure their spot in the Champions League for next campaign.
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