Matthijs De Ligt Injury: No timetable to return

De Ligt (back) won't play against Arsenal on Sunday and doesn't have an exact timeline for a return, manager Michael Carrick told media Friday. "I think it was just a little bit slower than initially hoped but he's certainly getting closer," Carrick said of De Ligt. "Hopefully, the next couple of weeks, without putting an exact timeline on it, he'll be back and it'll be great to have him back."

De Ligt hasn't played since Nov. 30, and this will be his 11th straight absence across all competitions. The Dutchman is likely a few weeks away from returning, according to Carrick, but he seems to be trending in the right direction. He'll compete for a spot at center-back alongside Harry Maguire, Leny Yoro and Lisandro Martinez once he's back to full fitness.