Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag believes Christian Eriksen will play for the club again this season but confirmed the Danish international will not return to action before the March international break.

Christian Eriksen has been out of action ever since he sustained an ankle injury during Manchester United’s FA Cup fourth-round match against Reading in January 2023.

Christian Eriksen joined Manchester United on a free transfer in 2022 after his contract with Brentford had expired. The 31-year-old has established himself as a key player at Manchester United and made 31 appearances for the Old Trafford outfit before picking up the ankle injury.

After Manchester United defeated Real Betis 4-1 in the Europa League round of 16 first leg, Erik ten Hag was asked whether Christian Eriksen will feature again this season.

Christian Eriksen injury update provided by Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag

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Erik ten Hag believes Christian Eriksen will play again this season and revealed the midfielder’s recovery from injury is going according to the plan.

“I think he will play, definitely,” Erik ten Hag said. “But I can’t tell now an expectation, but I think his progress in the rehab is OK. It is going according to plan, so definitely we will see him. But not before the [March] international break.”

Meanwhile, Manchester United bounced back from their heavy defeat at the hands of Liverpool with their win over Real Betis in the Europa League round of 16 first leg.

The Red Devils had fallen to a humiliating 7-0 defeat to Liverpool at Anfield in a Premier League fixture last week. But Manchester United responded to that in stellar fashion as they cruised to a 4-1 win over Real Betis. That win has all but sealed Manchester United’s progress to the quarter-final of the Europa League.

Manchester United will take on Southampton in the Premier League in their next fixture. The match between Manchester United and Southampton will kick off at 7:30 pm Indian Standard Time on March 12.

Manchester United currently sits third in the Premier League points table. The Red Devils have 49 points from 25 matches in the English top flight so far in the current campaign. They trail table-toppers Arsenal by 14 points and second-placed Manchester City by nine points. But Manchester United have a game in hand over both Arsenal and Manchester City.

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