Cryptic Matthijs de Ligt injury update after Man Utd defender misses Wolves win

Matthijs de Ligt is out of action for Manchester United (Picture: Getty Images)

Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim has given a concerning update on the fitness of Matthijs de Ligt , leaving fans guessing as to when the defender could return.

The Dutch defender missed last week’s draw with West Ham , but Amorim suggested he could return to face Wolves on Monday night.

However, despite De Ligt’s injury being described as a ‘small thing’ he was not in the squad for the trip to Molineux.

Manchester United did perfectly well without him, winning 4-1 against the Premier League strugglers, but there is concern over when the Netherlands international will be back in action.

While Amorim’s update last week sounded positive, uncertainty now surrounds the centre-back.

‘I don’t know, sometimes you have an idea then you have to see day by day,’ Amorim said after the resounding win at Wolves.

‘I’m not going to say when he is coming back.’

De Ligt has been a consistent performer at the back for Manchester United this season (Picture: Getty Images)

It is a very different tone to Amorim’s comments after De Ligt sat out the draw with the Hammers, when he said: ‘For Matta, it is a small thing. I expect to have Matthijs next game.’

The Red Devils only have Premier League commitments to deal with, but it is still a busy time for them, with four more games before the end of the year.

A third straight Monday night game is next, at home to Bournemouth , before a trip to in-form Aston Villa on Sunday December 21.

Then come two home games before the end of December, against Newcastle on Boxing Day and Wolves, again.

Ayden Heaven is getting his chance in the starting XI (Picture: Getty Images)

Harry Maguire is also out with a hamstring injury, which meant Amorim fielded a makeshift back three against Wolves.

Luke Shaw has been a mainstay this season and he was joined by Ayden Heaven and Noussair Mazraoui.

Maguire is expected to return this month, as is striker Benjamin Sesko who is dealing with a knee problem.

Amorim was very pleased with 19-year-old Heaven’s performance at Molineux as he filled in for much more experienced defenders.

Manchester United climbed to sixth with a win at Wolves (Picture: Getty Images)

‘I’m really proud of everyone today,’ said the manager. ‘They did a very good job. I think Ayden has a great future. He’s really hard to beat. He adapts really well in the centre.