Manchester United have been without Patrick Dorgu since late January due to a hamstring injury and the left winger is making good progress in his recovery at Carrington
Patrick Dorgu is making good progress in his recovery from a hamstring injury in a major boost to Michael Carrick. The Manchester United winger has been sidelined since picking up the injury in the 3-2 away win at Arsenal on January 25.
Dorgu was expected to be out for around 10 weeks with the injury, which came after he scored against the Gunners. The Denmark international was a revelation in the early days of Carrick's interim spell and will provide another option on the left flank once he returns.
He has missed eight games so far and the Premier League match against Leeds on April 13 was slated as a target return date after the initial prognosis. It is understood that the Leeds game will come too soon for Dorgu, but United announced on Saturday that he has returned to the grass at their Carrington training ground, working individually.
The 21-year-old has been undergoing meticulous strength and conditioning training in an effort to get back into the side. United only have seven matches remaining this season, with securing a place in next season's Champions League their sole goal.
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They sit third in the Premier League table, having won seven of the 10 games under Carrick's management, taking 23 from a possible 30 points. In truth, United haven't missed Dorgu, with Carrick shuffling his pack to place Matheus Cunha to the left of attack to cover, but his form before he got injured won't have been forgotten.
Dorgu scored in the 1-0 win over Newcastle on Boxing Day, in the 2-0 win over Manchester City on January 17 and in the stunning 3-2 victory over league-leaders Arsenal on January 25.
"Pat’s been a big player for us, obviously he’s scored two goals but in terms of the threat and athleticism and quality, he’s been immense down the side with Luke [Shaw] against two teams that ask a lot of questions," Carrick said after the win over Arsenal.
“I am delighted for him because the two goals he’s scored are very different goals. It’s nice to see him smiling and happy.”
Gary Neville summed up his form on Sky Sports: "Patrick Dorgu looked like such an average wing-back under Ruben Amorim. Further forward he looks like a completely and utterly different player."
Dorgu has three goals and three assists in 22 Premier League appearances this season, having played as a left wing-back under Amorim before being pushed forward to become a conventional left winger under Carrick.
He has been on the sidelines with Matthijs de Ligt, who has been frustratingly out with a back injury. The Netherlands international has not played since the 2-1 win over Crystal Palace on November 30.
