Erik ten Hag has disclosed that Manchester United ended Sergio Reguilon’s loan was ended because the club’s medical staff believed Luke Shaw and Tyrell Malacia would return from injury in January.
Reguilon joined United on loan from Tottenham in the summer transfer window to provide cover at left-back. However, his time at Old Trafford was cut short at the beginning of January.
Malacia has not played for United this season due to a knee injury, while Shaw is now facing an ‘extended period’ on the sidelines due to a hamstring issue.
This has left Ten Hag without a recognized left-back in his squad, and the Dutchman has described the situation as ‘one of my biggest frustrations’ at United.
‘In December, I had the discussions internally, with the medical and performance [staff],’ said Ten Hag.
‘They assured me they will both be fit in January and so you will have two left full-backs. Then you have a third one [Reguilon], so I would always have to disappoint one full-back.
‘We talk about one of my biggest frustrations, there. You can accept in a position that a player is not available, but when two players are not available over the course of the season, that is very frustrating, because that is also very difficult to catch up as a team.
‘We handled it in the best way, but of course it is a disadvantage.
‘In our left full back position, we’ve had two injuries almost over the entire course of the season. I think Liverpool is a good example.
‘Last year they had the same and they couldn’t handle it as well.’
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