Ruud van Nistelrooy updates Leny Yoro injury after Manchester United defender is pictured in training

Leny Yoro was spotted in training this morning, and Ruud van Nistelrooy says Manchester United wants to get him back in first-team action “as quickly as possible.”

In mid-July, Yoro, 18, who is considered to be among the best young defenders in European football, paid £52 million to join United from Ligue 1.

Through the transaction, Yoro became one of the most expensive center-backs in the history of the game and the most expensive football player younger than 18.

But Yoro broke his foot during United’s pre-season friendly match with Arsenal, just a fortnight after signing for the Red Devils, and the teenager is still yet to make a competitive appearance for the club.

It means Yoro did not even get the chance to feature competitively under Erik ten Hag but the France Under-23 international has been stepping up his rehabilitation in recent weeks and was welcomed back into training by interim boss Van Nistelrooy today.

‘He’s been managed very well after his injury in pre-season,’ Van Nistelrooy said of Yoro’s progress while facing the media this afternoon.

‘Obviously, it was going to be a long one and it’s a big moment for him, that first time he’s back in team training.

‘We’re going to get him back partially over the coming weeks and look to get him on board as quickly as possible.’

A video from Carrington shows Yoro given a round of applause before receiving a few playful slaps from his team-mates, who were clearly delighted to have the centre-half back in the fold.

According to Sky Sports, Yoro took part in the group session for around 15 minutes before moving to a separate training pitch for further individual work.

United’s upcoming Europa League tie with PAOK will come too soon for Yoro, with the Old Trafford giants keen to wrap their big-money signing up in cotton wool until he is 100 per cent ready for action.

The youngster will no doubt hope to make an impression over the coming weeks, though, with new head coach Ruben Amorim set to officially begin work at the Theatre of Dreams on November 11.

Kobbie Mainoo, Luke Shaw, Harry Maguire and Tyrell Malacia are working their way back from injuries and are still yet to return to first-team training.

However, Mason Mount has been put through his paces at Carrington this week and the 25-year-old attacking midfielder will be hopeful of making a contribution at the Theatre of Dreams on Thursday night.

Asked for updates on Mainoo, Shaw, Maguire and Malacia, Van Nistelrooy explained: ‘Different cases, all of them. Tyrell is the furthest at the moment.

‘He’s been part of team training for a couple of weeks now, completely in team training with no restrictions.

‘It’s good for him to plan game minutes, maybe in the Under-21s, we will have to see.

‘Harry is still inside doing work on his rehab and Luke also does pitch work like he did today and is progressing there to hopefully to partial team training hopefully soon.’

Prior to being sacked, Ten Hag provided a positive update on Yoro’s recovery, claiming the Frenchman was heading ‘in the right direction’ with his rehabilitation.

‘He is doing very well,’ the former United head coach told reporters.

‘It is very pleasing that his rehab is going in the right direction and I expect him soon, but what I mean by soon, is that he is now in the right planning process.

‘He is in the right spot and he will return as soon as possible into the squad and then the team training.’

United tried a number of centre-back combinations across a miserable start to the campaign under Ten Hag, with Jonny Evans, Harry Maguire, Lisandro Martinez and Matthijs de Ligt all getting minutes at the heart of defence.

But Martinez and De Ligt have been selected as the pairing for United’s last five matches in all competitions and are likely to continue their run in Van Nistelrooy’s XI at home to Leicester in the Premier League this weekend.

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