Manchester United: Leny Yoro returns to training, Ruud Van Nistelrooy wants new boy 'back as quickly as possible'
Published 06/11/2024 at 15:02 GMT
Leny Yoro, Manchester United's £52 million summer signing, was back in training on Wednesday as his recovery from a fracture continues. Interim boss Ruud van Nistelrooy, speaking ahead of The Red Devils' UEFA Europa League game against PAOK - live on TNT Sports and discovery+ on Thursday - described it as a "big moment" for the 18-year-old.
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Manchester United's Leny Yoro was pictured back in training for the first time since suffering an injury in pre-season, with interim manager Ruud van Nistelrooy saying it was "a big moment" for the defender.
The 18-year-old, who was signed from Lille for £52 million in the summer, has yet to play competitively for the side, although he featured briefly in their pre-season campaign.
He fractured his metatarsal in a friendly against Arsenal and has been sidelined since, delaying his official debut, but he was pictured alongside a guard of honour by team-mates as he returned to training on Wednesday.
Speaking before United take on Greek champions PAOK in the UEFA Europa League - live on TNT Sports and discovery+ - Van Nistelrooy said: "He's been managed very well since his injury in pre-season.
"We knew it would be a long one. It's a big moment for him, that first time he is back in team training.
"Obviously we will get him back partially over the coming weeks and look to get him back as quickly as possible."
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The Dutchman did not offer a specific timeline on Yoro's return to action, or on the host of other injured players in the squad, but suggested that long-term absentee Tyrell Malacia is nearing a comeback.
He continued: "Different cases, all of them. Tyrell is the furthest [along] at the moment. He's been back in team training for a few weeks now, no restrictions. It is good for him to plan game minutes, maybe in the under-21s, we have to see.
"Harry [Maguire] is still inside working on his rehab and Luke [Shaw] is doing pitch work like he did today. He's progressing there to doing partial team training soon."
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Out-of-form striker Marcus Rashford was seen training alone before the session, but Van Nistelrooy insisted there was "no special news on that one. He did a bit of extra work before the session on his own."
United face PAOK, who sit second in the Greek top flight, at Old Trafford on Thursday night.
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Van Nistelrooy and goalkeeper Andre Onana were also asked about the transition from Ten Hag's stewardship and the impending arrival of new manager Ruben Amorim, who impressed in his send-off for Sporting CP on Wednesday night.
Onana, who worked under Ten Hag at Ajax as well as United, said: "It's not always easy for players to understand when a manager is leaving.
"But, at the end of the day, the club have to make the decision and we have to follow. I have a very good relationship with him. Why things didn't work here? We didn't win enough games, so simple.
"It's not easy, sometimes you have to pay the price and unfortunately it was him. The players give everything. We worked hard, we tried our best but it just didn't work."
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Van Nistelrooy, who has overseen a 5-2 EFL Cup win over Leicester City and a 1-1 draw with Chelsea in his brief spell as interim manager, suggested that the ship had been steadied after the upheaval of Ten Hag's departure.
"Of course, it is mixed emotions because when he leaves it is a very sad day and the days after that you have to recover as a team and as staff.
"To go through that together, we tried everything together to make it work but we couldn't. Then you have to switch mindset.
"We did and you saw that against Leicester. They [the players] took responsibility that they had to improve as well.
"I think the emotion has calmed down. Players are now training and focusing on getting their performances where we want them."
The interim boss said he had yet to have contact with Amorim and that he was "waiting for conversations to take place" on his own future.
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"In the meantime, the most important thing is getting the work done on a daily basis and in the game tomorrow in Europe.
"I have to say that I feel the responsibility to do well over the next week and that is my job."
Amorim masterminded Sporting's 4-1 UEFA Champions League thrashing of Manchester City, but some have questioned how he will work with Manchester United's expensively-assembled but misfiring squad when he arrives on Monday.
Onana did not think it was an issue. Having watched the game, he said: "It is a different system but my team-mates here are all pragmatic.
"Everyone here is capable to play in each system, so I don't think this will be any issue for us. We have big players and they will step up."
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