Dorgu Faces Extended Recovery After Injury Setback

omidbasir- The 21-year-old player is expected to endure a lengthy rehabilitation period after sustaining an injury during the intense closing moments of United’s 3-2 victory at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday, as reported by The Athletic.

Dorgu, who had earlier scored a remarkable half-volley from outside the box to contribute to the team’s success, experienced a setback while pursuing a long ball in the second half. Although the club is still determining the full extent of the injury to establish a definitive timeline, preliminary reports indicate that the medical staff anticipates he will be sidelined for approximately 10 weeks.

This diagnosis is a considerable downgrade from the initial prognosis provided immediately after the match. In the post-match press conference held in north London, interim head coach Carrick had expressed optimism that the issue was merely related to fatigue. He suggested that the player had “hopefully” just suffered from cramp, given the match’s demanding nature against the league leaders. However, further evaluations have confirmed a muscular injury that will keep the young talent out of action until the spring, interrupting the momentum he had built over the last fortnight.

The timing of the injury is particularly unfortunate, as the player had been in excellent form following the departure of Ruben Amorim. Under the previous management, the former Lecce player was mainly utilized as a wing-back, a role that often required him to prioritize defensive duties at the expense of his attacking contributions. However, since Carrick took over, Dorgu has been repositioned as a left-winger within a 4-2-3-1 system, a tactical change that has yielded immediate dividends.

Dorgu has played a crucial role in United’s recent resurgence, starting and scoring in successive victories over Manchester City and Arsenal. His goal against Arsenal—a precise long-range strike—underlined his potential when given the freedom to operate higher up the pitch. This season, he has made 22 appearances in the Premier League, netting three goals and providing three assists. His absence creates a significant gap just as the team seemed to have established a winning formula, compelling the coaching staff to reassess their attacking strategy for the forthcoming matches.

If the 10-week recovery timeframe is accurate, Dorgu is poised to miss the club’s next eight matches across all competitions. This stretch is critical as United aims to ascend the league table and secure European qualification. Should his recovery align with this timeline, he will miss the entirety of February and March, with a tentative return date set for after the next international break.

The match against Leeds United on April 11 has been identified as a potential target for his comeback. Until that time, the squad will have to manage without one of their most dynamic attacking players. This hiatus effectively excludes him from a significant portion of the remaining season, requiring him to work diligently to regain match fitness as the season concludes.

This news adds to the growing list of fitness challenges facing the medical team at Carrington. Dorgu joins Matthijs de Ligt on the sidelines; the Dutch centre-back has also been unavailable for the last 11 games due to a back injury sustained in early December. The absence of another critical player stretches the resources available to Carrick as he navigates his interim management.

Dorgu arrived at Old Trafford in February of last year, signing from Serie A side Lecce for a fee of £25 million. Since then, he has made 44 appearances for the club, solidifying his status as a regular fixture. While his versatility has been an asset, his recent performances as a dedicated winger suggested he was reaching his full potential in a United shirt. The club will now need to draw upon their squad depth to compensate for his energy and goal-scoring threat during his rehabilitation.