---
title: "Manchester United: Eric Bailly ruled out for “4 to 5 months”"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/manchester-united-eric-bailly-ruled-out-for-4-to-5-months/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Callum Pragnell"
section: "Manchester United Football Club"
published: "2019-08-24T19:10:51Z"
modified: "2019-08-24T19:10:51Z"
---

# Manchester United: Eric Bailly ruled out for “4 to 5 months”

**Manchester United defender Eric Bailly has been ruled out of action for between ‘4-5 months’ with a knee injury he sustained against Tottenham in pre-season, [via the Manchester Evening News](https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/man-utd-injury-news-latest-16656589).**

![](https://cdn.footballtransfertavern.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/THE-BREAKDOWN.png)

Bailly, who joined the Red Devils from Villarreal in 2016, has suffered with consistent injury problems since his switch to the Premier League giants.

The 25-year-old has missed a total of [53 games for United (per Transfermarkt)](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/eric-bailly/verletzungen/spieler/286384) through injury so far, with that number set to rise drastically due to his latest set-back. Still, it’s not like he’s being missed thus far, with five players averaging more tackles per game than he did last season (1.3 per [WhoScored](https://www.whoscored.com/Players/243814/History/Eric-Bailly)) and 3/4 of their backline averaging more interceptions over the same period.

The Ivorian twisted his knee during United’s 2-1 victory over Spurs in the 2019 Champions Cup in Shanghai, which saw him miss the rest of the Red Devils’ pre-season.

Bailly’s injury was not feared to be serious at the time, though it has now been confirmed that the centre-half could miss a further five months worth of action, with manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer hopeful of his return around Christmas.

Speaking to the press, the Norwegian said: “He’s had an operation and he’ll miss the best part of four or five months, I would think. Hopefully we’ll get him back around Christmas.”

![](https://cdn.footballtransfertavern.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Verdict.png)

Although Bailly’s untimely injury will come as a blow for United, they do still have plenty of options in the centre-back department.

[New £80m signing Harry Maguire](https://www.manutd.com/en/news/detail/harry-maguire-confirmed-as-man-utd-third-summer-signing) is starting to form a budding partnership with Sweden international Victor Lindelof in the heart of a new-look back-line at Old Trafford which has conceded just one goal in their opening two league fixtures. Indeed, their partnership has been praised by [top journalists such as James Ducker](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2019/08/19/victor-lindelof-harry-maguire-have-finally-given-man-utd-defensive/).

Alongside Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Luke Shaw, United look much more assured defensively, which could be the difference when it comes to them breaking back into the top-four this term, thus ensuring the return of Champions League football next season.

***Is Bailly worth the injury hassle? Join the discussion by commenting below…***