In a recent interview ahead of Manchester United’s FA Cup replay against Wolverhampton Wanderers in midweek, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer issued a positive update on Eric Bailly’s return when he said (via Manchester Evening News),
“He’s very close, he might be back for the weekend.
“We’ve got a game arranged today with the reserves, so he’ll play that one. Hopefully, he’ll get 90 minutes, because he didn’t feel any after-effects from the game on Friday so he might be ready for Liverpool.”
Bailly’s Timely Return: Massive Boost For Solskjaer?
This latest development will be a welcome bit of news for anyone associated with the Mancunian club. With Axel Tuanzebe currently sidelined with an injury and Phil Jones struggling to perform at a high level, Solskjaer needs a capable back-up for his first-team regulars, Victor Lindelof and Harry Maguire.
Therefore, having Bailly back for next Sunday’s trip to Liverpool will be a huge boost for the Red Devils as they look to get their Premier League campaign back on track in the coming months. The 25-year-old has not featured for the Man United first-team for nearly six months after he sustained a serious knee injury against Tottenham Hotspur in a pre-season friendly back in July last year.
The Ivorian’s Stop-Start Career At Old Trafford
Since making a switch from Villarreal in the summer of 2016, Bailly has gone on to make 74 appearances for the Mancunian giants with one goal to his name across all competitions. The Ivorian defensive ace averaged 1.3 tackles, 1.1 interceptions and 3.1 clearances per game in the Premier League last season (stats via whoscored).
What Does Bailly Bring To The Table?
On his day, Bailly can be a top defender at the back as he possesses decent pace and incredible strength to overpower the opposition inside his own half. He can also make a few well-timed tackles to intercept the ball for his team. Furthermore, the Ivorian talent can read the danger quickly and pull off some vital last-ditch clearances to save his side’s blushes from time to time.
As long as Bailly can stay injury-free, he should have a good shot of earning a regular starting berth at the Theatre of Dreams this season. With Man United still fighting in four different competitions, the former La Liga centre-back will be expected to get some decent chances to shine under Solskjaer’s tutelage in the second half of this campaign.
