Man Utd Injury Update: Mount, De Ligt & Dorgu — Latest Return Dates & Full Fitness Report
Manchester United face a mounting injury list as Michael Carrick navigates the Premier League run-in. | © Getty Images
Manchester United manager Michael Carrick is without a trio of key players as the Red Devils battle for a Premier League top-four finish. Here is every injury detail — what happened, how long each player is out, and the latest estimated return dates for Mason Mount, Matthijs de Ligt and Patrick Dorgu.
📋 Current Man Utd Injury List — Quick Glance
| Player | Injury | Status | Est. Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mason Mount | Muscle knock (training) | Near Return | vs Everton — 23 Feb |
| Matthijs de Ligt | Lower back problem | Doubtful | vs Everton — 23 Feb |
| Patrick Dorgu | Hamstring strain | Long-Term Out | Early April (est.) |
The Bigger Picture: Carrick's Injury Headache
Manchester United's resurgence under interim boss Michael Carrick has been one of the most compelling storylines in the Premier League this season. The Red Devils have beaten Manchester City, Arsenal, Fulham and Tottenham Hotspur in recent weeks — a run of form that has propelled them into fourth place and reignited hopes of Champions League football next season.
Yet even as United find form, the treatment room at Carrington continues to fill up. Three of the squad's key figures — Mason Mount, Matthijs de Ligt and Patrick Dorgu — are all currently sidelined, each with different timeframes for recovery. Understanding those timelines is crucial to evaluating how the Red Devils will perform over the coming weeks.
Here, Trendy News brings you the definitive, up-to-date breakdown of all three injuries: what went wrong, what the medical staff are saying, when fans can realistically expect each player back, and what it means for Carrick's tactical plans.
Mason Mount: The Comeback That Keeps Getting Delayed
Mason Mount
⚠ Minor Muscle Knock (Training)
Missed matches vs Fulham, Tottenham & West Ham. Carrick confirmed he is fit again ahead of the Everton trip.
Expected Return: 23 Feb vs Everton (A)
Mason Mount's Manchester United career has been defined by injury setbacks, and his latest absence is unfortunately more of the same. The England international sustained a minor muscle knock during a training session in late January, ruling him out of Carrick's matchday squad for the win over Fulham — a surprise omission given he had featured from the bench in Carrick's first two games.
What made the situation particularly frustrating was the nature of the injury: a training-ground knock is rarely considered serious, yet it lingered longer than the medical team initially anticipated. Mount also missed the Premier League clash against Tottenham Hotspur, in which United ran out convincing 2-0 winners, and he was subsequently ruled out for the West Ham fixture too.
The good news is that Carrick has offered the most optimistic prognosis yet ahead of United's next outing. Speaking to reporters before the West Ham draw, the United manager confirmed that Mount is almost certainly on track to feature against Everton on Monday 23 February, putting three weeks of frustration behind him. For a player of Mount's quality and experience, returning to match sharpness quickly should not be a problem — provided his body cooperates.
At 26 years old, Mount has now spent more time in the United treatment room than on the pitch since joining from Chelsea in 2023. This latest minor issue does nothing to ease concerns about his durability, but Carrick has made clear his belief in the midfielder's ability and is evidently counting on him as a key creative outlet in the weeks ahead.
Matthijs de Ligt: Back Problem Enters Its Third Month
Matthijs de Ligt
⚠ Lower Back Injury (Chronic)
Absent since the 2-1 win at Crystal Palace on 30 November. Has not yet returned to training at Carrington. Carrick cautiously optimistic.
Expected Return: Late Feb / vs Everton 23 Feb (TBC)
Of the three absentees, Matthijs de Ligt's situation is arguably the most concerning in terms of sheer duration. The Dutch centre-back has not kicked a ball in competitive action since Manchester United's 2-1 victory at Crystal Palace on 30 November 2025 — a run of over 12 league matches and counting.
The injury was initially characterised by former head coach Ruben Amorim as a short-term back issue, with the expectation that De Ligt would return within a matter of weeks. Instead, the problem has proven to be frustratingly stubborn. Multiple reports have confirmed that the 25-year-old centre-back has experienced repeated setbacks during his recovery and has, as of mid-February 2026, yet to resume training with the first team at Carrington.
Despite the drawn-out nature of his absence, Carrick has offered cautiously positive signs ahead of the Everton fixture. Speaking at his pre-match press conference, the manager noted that De Ligt was "moving in the right direction" and described his attitude as "positive." The strong indication from United's coaching staff is that a return to squad involvement is imminent — with Everton away on 23 February cited as a realistic, if not certain, return date.
For the Red Devils, getting De Ligt fit again would be a major boost. United have coped admirably without him — rotating Harry Maguire and other defensive options — but adding a quality international centre-back to the mix will give Carrick greater defensive flexibility during what is set to be a congested fixture schedule across March and April.
📌 Key Stat
De Ligt has featured in just 9 Premier League matches for Manchester United this season — missing more games through injury (12+) than he has played. The Dutch international has now gone over 78 days without competitive football.
Patrick Dorgu: Hamstring Blow Cuts Short Brilliant Form
Patrick Dorgu
🔴 Hamstring Strain (Serious)
Injured at Arsenal after scoring a stunning goal. Reports indicate up to 10 weeks on the sidelines — the worst of the three injuries currently at United.
Expected Return: Early April (after March international break)
Perhaps the most heartbreaking of United's injury stories this month belongs to Patrick Dorgu. The 20-year-old Danish international was in scintillating form under Carrick, having already netted in the Manchester derby before producing a stunning long-range strike in the 3-2 win at Arsenal. He was rapidly establishing himself as one of the most exciting players in the Premier League — deployed as an attacking left winger rather than the traditional left-back role he filled at Lecce.
Then, cruelly, it all came undone. While chasing a ball over the top in the closing stages at the Emirates Stadium, Dorgu pulled up sharply with what was initially feared to be cramp. Within days, however, The Athletic reported that he was facing up to ten weeks on the sidelines with a hamstring strain — a significant and painful blow.
If the ten-week prognosis proves accurate, Dorgu will not return to first-team action until early April — meaning he will miss the entirety of February and March, including potentially crucial Premier League fixtures against Everton, Crystal Palace, Newcastle, and the visit to Bournemouth. He is also expected to miss the March international break, where he would otherwise have featured for Denmark.
Carrick will be hoping the recovery timeline is at the shorter end of the prognosis. United's medical team have been cautious in publicly attaching a specific return date, with the manager himself telling reporters he would not speculate on an exact figure. What is clear, however, is that Dorgu's absence creates a genuine gap on United's left flank — one that will need to be managed carefully over the coming weeks.
Michael Carrick's Response: Finding Solutions Without Key Men
One of the defining marks of Michael Carrick's interim tenure has been his ability to get results despite being short-handed. United won three of his first four league matches without a fully-fit Mount, De Ligt or Dorgu — victories over Manchester City, Arsenal, Fulham and Tottenham that few would have predicted when he stepped into the role following the dismissal of Ruben Amorim.
Benjamin Sesko has stepped up admirably in attack, netting a dramatic late winner against Fulham to continue his impressive debut season. Bryan Mbeumo has provided consistent attacking threat from the right. And in the heart of midfield, Casemiro and Scott McTominay have provided steel and drive in the absence of Mount's creativity.
Defensively, Carrick has deployed Maguire as the senior centre-back partner, and the England international has responded well to the responsibility. However, everyone at Old Trafford understands that the squad depth will be tested more rigorously in March and April, when European aspirations, domestic cup ties and a congested league schedule converge.
The returns of Mount and De Ligt — both expected around the Everton fixture on 23 February — would provide a significant injection of quality. Dorgu's absence until April will be tougher to manage, but Carrick has shown an impressive tactical intelligence in adapting his system to the personnel available.
What These Injuries Mean for Man Utd's Top-Four Hopes
Manchester United currently sit fourth in the Premier League table — exactly where they need to be to secure Champions League qualification. However, the margin between fourth and fifth is narrow, and every dropped point will be scrutinised. The injury situation is therefore not merely a team-news footnote; it could have a decisive bearing on whether the Red Devils return to Europe's premier competition next season.
With De Ligt and Mount expected back by the end of February, United's defensive solidity and midfield creativity should be significantly enhanced heading into the final quarter of the campaign. Dorgu's prolonged absence is more problematic, but Carrick has enough quality and tactical flexibility to compensate — provided he avoids further injury misfortune.
The next fixture — away at Everton on Monday 23 February — could well mark a turning point. A win, potentially with Mount and De Ligt back in the fold, would push United four places clear of the chasing pack and send a strong signal of intent ahead of the business end of the season.
Frequently Asked Questions
Michael Carrick has confirmed that Mason Mount is expected to return to the squad for Manchester United's Premier League trip to Everton on Monday 23 February 2026. Mount has been sidelined with a minor muscle knock sustained in training, causing him to miss the matches against Fulham, Tottenham and West Ham.
Matthijs de Ligt has been sidelined with a persistent lower back injury. He has not featured for Manchester United since the 2-1 win at Crystal Palace on 30 November 2025. As of mid-February 2026, he had not yet returned to first-team training at Carrington, though the club is cautiously optimistic about a return around late February.
Patrick Dorgu sustained a hamstring injury during Manchester United's 3-2 win at Arsenal in late January 2026. Reports suggested he could be out for up to ten weeks, which would place his return in early April 2026 — after the March international break.
Michael Carrick is currently serving as Manchester United's interim manager following the departure of Ruben Amorim. Carrick has won four of his first five matches in charge, including victories over Manchester City, Arsenal, Fulham and Tottenham Hotspur.
The Bottom Line
Manchester United's injury situation is a mixed picture. The near-term outlook is brighter than it has been for weeks, with both Mason Mount and Matthijs de Ligt edging towards a return in time for the Everton fixture. Patrick Dorgu's hamstring injury, however, remains a significant and unresolved concern, with the young Dane almost certainly absent until April.
Michael Carrick has shown in his early weeks that he can generate results even when short-handed, but the stakes will only grow higher as the season enters its decisive phase. How he manages this squad over the next two months — particularly with key players returning from injury at staggered intervals — will go a long way to determining whether Manchester United achieve their primary objective: a return to the Champions League.
Trendy News will keep you updated with all the latest Manchester United injury news, return dates, and team news as it happens. Bookmark this page and follow us at trendynews.space for live updates.
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