De Ligt joins Man Utd Ireland camp despite back surgery recovery
De Ligt joins Man Utd Ireland camp despite injury

Matthijs de Ligt is continuing his rehabilitation from back surgery with the rest of the Manchester United squad in Ireland after being included in the club's pre-season training camp.

The Netherlands international remains on track with his recovery from surgery he underwent three months ago, but he isn't expected to be fit until the early weeks of the new Premier League season.

Nine players added to camp

Despite being unable to train and play, De Ligt was one of nine United players who flew from Manchester to Dublin on Sunday to link up with the 22 players who had travelled to Ireland from Gothenburg on Sunday night.

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Lisandro Martinez will arrive on Monday, meaning Manuel Ugarte is the only first-team squad member who won't be part of the camp. He is continuing to recover from surgery on a serious knee injury sustained during the World Cup.

Rehabilitation at Carton House

De Ligt has been a regular at Carrington this summer as he continues to work his way back to full fitness. The five-day camp at Carton House in County Kildare is the one significant trip in United's pre-season, and Michael Carrick wanted the squad together, with some bonding elements planned.

That is why De Ligt has been included and he will continue to spend time around the group during the week. He missed the training camp at the same venue in April when he was continuing to try and work towards a return before the end of the season.

Injury timeline

The £42.8million centre-back hasn't played since the end of November, having started every Premier League game last season until that point. He put off surgery for most of last term in a bid to return before the end of the campaign and prove his fitness for the World Cup. When that proved impossible, he went under the knife in May in a bid to put the back issue behind him.

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