Many Manchester United fans are excited and positive about the return of Eric Bailly, who has hinted at recovery from injury.
The 25-year-old Ivorian has not played a single minute of this season for United. He sustained a knee injury in pre-season and is expected to be back at the end of the year.
The Red Devils have seen summer signing Harry Maguire and Victor Lindelof become their first-choice defenders, with the Englishman having played every game of the season so far.
But Bailly posted a message on social media and hinted about a possible return.
Some United fans reacted positively to the post.
Just hoping he no longer gets injured and can get some consistency.
— Yukta Shree (@Shree4Yukta) November 5, 2019
I love to see him pic.twitter.com/UvOPOlNz8O
— Eric (@utdsimz) November 5, 2019
Miss him tbvvh
— Storm. (@_odera247) November 5, 2019
Forgot he even existed
— Ubay (@ubaydelapogbaa) November 5, 2019
Hope he benches lindelof. Baily and maguire would be awesome
— Mikel_Chuks (@MikelChuks3) November 5, 2019
Rather have him than lindelof
— . (@UdontKnowMe1238) November 5, 2019
Damn! Forgotten we still got him
— I love Nigeria (@Mikebankschidi) November 5, 2019
Better than maguire
— izzoh ph (@isaacmisati) November 6, 2019
Bailly joined United in the summer of 2016 from Spanish club Villarreal for a fee of £30million. Since joining, the defender has played 74 times in all competitions for the club, scoring once.
The last time he made a league appearance for the Red Devils was back in April this year, when he started in the 1-1 draw against Chelsea at Old Trafford. Last season, he played 18 times in all competitions – appearing 12 times in the Premier League.
Since arriving at Old Trafford, Bailly has sustained four injuries. He has missed 62 games due these times.
After he sustained his latest injury in pre-season, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer told reporters: “He’s had an operation and he’ll miss the best part of four or five months, I would think. Hopefully we’ll get him back around Christmas.”
What do we think?
Bailly adds some quality and depth to the United backline. With Axel Tuanzebe injured whilst some of the other alternatives Solskjaer has had to call upon don’t appear to be cutting it – Marcos Rojo was linked with a move to Everton in the summer. Bailly may not play every game like Maguire or Lindelof do, but he will be a very good option when United play in the Europa League.
They have reached the quarter-final of the Carabao Cup and that screams out the need for more depth. Bailly provides just that and his return would be welcomed at Old Trafford.