Manchester United's forgotten player just returned and will demand Ruben Amorim's attention

Relief. Happiness. Gratitude. Optimism. These are just some of the emotions that would have swirled through Tyrell Malacia's mind as he played his first competitive game in 517 days.

Malacia has been on a long road to recovery from injury and Tuesday night was a significant moment in his career. He played for the Under-21s against Huddersfield Town in the EFL Trophy having worked tirelessly to feel the grass beneath his feet at the John Smith’s Stadium.

The 25-year-old sustained a knee injury at the end of the 2022/23 season and required two rounds of surgery to address the issue, despite United trying to initially manage it with pain injections. Malacia’s rehabilitation hasn’t been straightforward and it was great to see him in a United shirt again.

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The mental challenge of overcoming a significant period on the sidelines is often overlooked when it shouldn't be. Malacia has almost been an outsider at his own club having been forced to watch while his peers progressed while he has stalled.

Some of the United medical staff who have helped Malacia along his journey attended the game to celebrate his return and a handful of fans asked him for a selfie as he left the team bus. Malacia received warm applause from the 200 or so United supporters as he warmed up and his first touch of the contest came after five minutes.

The Dutchman exchanged a few passes with Tommy Rowe and combined with Sekou Kone, the exciting young midfielder who signed for United for around £1million in the summer. After settling into the game and remembering what a competitive fixture felt like, Malacia made his first venture into