by
Graeme Jackson

Thursday Dec 22, 2016. 11:30


Manchester United have been handed a major boost ahead of their busy festive-season schedule with the news that Ivory Coast defender Eric Bailly is back in training.

The Elephants centre-back limped out of United’s 2-1 win over Crystal Palace earlier this month after a nasty challenge by Lee Chung-Yong.

Fortunately it was just a minor knock, not a reoccurrence of the knee ligament injury which Bailly picked up in a defeat to Chelsea in October and forced him to miss nine matches.

The defender’s return is most welcome for the Red Devils, who have home Premier League matches against Sunderland and Middlesbrough on December 26 and 31 respectively, before a match at West Ham United on January 2.

Bailly is then set to depart and join up with his Ivory Coast teammates as they prepare for the defence of their Africa Cup of Nations title.

The continental tournament in Gabon runs from 14 January to 5 February.


Source link