Matthijs de Ligt has not played a competitive minute for Manchester United in ten and a half months after suffering a back injury last season.

The Dutch international started all 13 of United's opening 13 Premier League fixtures last campaign, but after completing the full 90 minutes in a 2-1 away win over Crystal Palace at the end of October, he suffered an injury that Rúben Amorim initially expected to keep him out for only a few weeks.

However, what was initially expected to be a short-term absence soon turned into a lengthy spell on the sidelines, with De Ligt suffering multiple issues with his lower back.

He initially opted against surgery in the hope of returning before the end of the season, but with May approaching, it was eventually decided that he would undergo an operation.

De Ligt has since trained with his teammates on several occasions over the past few months, travelled with the squad for the recent draw against Fulham, and even featured for some minutes in a friendly fixture last week.

Roundtable revealed last week that the Netherlands international played his first minutes this year during a behind-closed-doors friendly against FC Lausanne-Sport, with Carlos Baleba also getting minutes in red.

A number of first-team players, such as Matheus Cunha, Mason Mount, Luke Shaw, and Harry Maguire also played, while both goals were scored by U21s striker, Victor Musa. Amad did not feature, while Kobbie Mainoo and Marcus Rashford watched on the sidelines.

There have been questions about whether De Ligt can still play at his highest level after missing over 11 months of action to date, but Roundtable also understands that the 27-year-old has looked good since returning to full training.

It is thought that the defender is close to returning to duty with United, which would provide a much-needed boost to Michael Carrick's side, who have kept only one clean sheet this season.

It remains unclear whether De Ligt will be fit to return when Manchester United host Tottenham Hotspur at Old Trafford on Saturday, October 10. Either way, his return will be a fantastic sight.

United's defensive issues make his availability particularly important. De Ligt was performing strongly before his injury last season, and his return could give Carrick a much-needed defensive leader to build around.

Elsewhere, Baleba, United's £65 million signing from Brighton, is still waiting to make his debut after picking up an ankle injury in the summer, but he was named on the bench for the 1-1 draw with Fulham before the international break.

Baleba wasn't called up, but his inclusion in the squad was an encouraging sign. With three more weeks of training during the international break, the midfielder is close to making his long-awaited debut, and his energy and physicality could give Carrick's midfield a significant lift.