‘Best feeling ever’ – Former Manchester United player reacts as Tyrell Malacia handed first start for 17 months

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Former Manchester United man Owen Hargreaves has said it is ‘amazing’ to see Tyrell Malacia back in the starting XI for the Red Devils. Ruben Amorim has handed the left-back a start in their Europa League clash against Bodo/Glimt at Old Trafford.

Malacia, who is 25-years-old, hasn’t played for 17 months and has been on the road to recovery from a knee injury. He has now been handed his first appearance for 550 days.

Ex-United player Hargreaves is on pundit duties for TNT Sports and has said: “It’s amazing for him. I’m wishing him all the best because it is really tough when you are out for a long time. A lot of people start questioning things but this is a huge opportunity for the young man. He is a talented player.

“It almost suits him perfectly playing as a wing back. You just want him to enjoy it. When they get on the ball, can he get up the pitch? He needs to defend properly as well. After being in the gym for 18 months, having operations and all that kind of stuff, this is the best feeling ever and these fans will be there for him.”

United signed Malacia under former boss Erik ten Hag back in the summer of 2022 to bolster their defensive ranks. He played 39 games during his first year at the club, 22 of which came in the Premier League.

Injury then struck and he didn’t play at all last term. Prior to his switch to England, he rose up through the academy ranks at Feyenoord and was a regular for the Eredivisie outfit at various different youth levels before he broke into their first-team as a youngster.

Malacia went on to played 137 matches during his days in Rotterdam and got to the final of the Europa Conference League. He has also made nine caps for the Holland national team and will be targeting more down the line.

United handed him a four-year deal running until 2026 when they snapped him up, with the option a further 12 months on top of that until 2027 if they wish to. He said at the time: “It’s an incredible feeling to have joined. This is a new chapter for me, a new league with new team-mates and a tremendous manager leading us. I know from playing against his teams in the Eredivisie, the qualities that he has and what he demands of his players.

“While I know that I am still young and will continue to develop, I can promise the United fans that I will leave everything on the pitch every time I pull on the red shirt.”

It has been a tough past year-and-a-half for Malacia and he will be relieved to be back out on the pitch. It is important that he continues to build up his fitness and when he is 100% ready, he will will give Amorim more competition and depth at the back in the league.