Aaron Wan-Bissaka injury: Progress & potential return date for Man Utd defender

Erik ten Hag has got a lot on his plate right now.

The Dutchman's debut season at Manchester United promised so much, and a transfer window in which Ten Hag's desired targets in several key positions were acquired meant optimism was rife heading into 2023/24.

However, instead of looking like a side capable of competing with their noisy neighbours at the Premier League summit, United are a hot mess having tasted defeat three times in five games.

There have been mitigating factors to United's slow start, though, including injuries. The Red Devils' list of absentees is pretty extensive, although Raphael Varane and Mason Mount should soon be making their returns. Nevertheless, United added another name to their injury list this week with Aaron Wan-Bissaka poised for a spell on the sidelines.

Here is the latest on Wan-Bissaka's injury.

When will Aaron Wan-Bissaka return from injury?

Illness meant Wan-Bissaka only earned minutes off the bench during United's 3-1 defeat to Brighton on Saturday, but the full-back picked up an injury late on at Old Trafford after he was introduced to proceedings.

While the club merely said Wan-Bissaka had picked up an "injury", it's since been disclosed that he sustained a hamstring problem. "Further assessment will be needed to determine how long Wan-Bissaka will be out for, but initial indications suggest it will be several weeks," United added.

Wan-Bissaka's absence is problematic for Ten Hag, who is currently without left-backs Luke Shaw and Tyrell Malacia. His injury leaves the Dutchman short-handed at full-back, with Diogo Dalot and emergency summer arrival Sergio Reguilon both set to continue in the starting XI for a while.

Wan-Bissaka has enjoyed a resurgence under the former Ajax boss and emerged as a prominent figure in the United side during the second half of 2022/23. The right-back started nine of United's final 13 Premier League games and all of their opening four games of 2023/24 before Brighton's visit.

With many projecting a two-month absence for the 25-year-old, he'll miss the start of United's Champions League campaign as well as the Manchester derby in late October.

Man Utd's current injury list

Despite the Wan-Bissaka setback, United's injuries are trending in the right direction with Ten Hag set to welcome back a couple of faces for their upcoming Champions League clash in Munich.

Raphael Varane and Mason Mount have both returned to training, with the pair expected to earn minutes on Wednesday night. United supporters should also catch a glimpse of late summer arrival Sofyan Amrabat this weekend as they take on Burnley at Turf Moor. The Moroccan midfielder sustained a knock over the international break and is yet to make his debut for the club.

However, Amrabat's injury isn't believed to be serious and we should see him take to the field at some point this weekend.

There's less clarity regarding the returns of Shaw and Malacia, while pre-season star Kobbie Mainoo has teased an imminent return from his ankle injury. Mainoo is yet to feature this season.