Axel Tuanzebe: Forgotten Man United Defender Spotted in Training Ahead of Return

Axel Tuanzebe: Forgotten Man United Defender Spotted in Training Ahead of Return

Fred Kennedy
updated at April 12, 2023 at 8:23 PM
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  • Axel Tuanzebe has been sidelined for months with a back injury he picked up during his loan spell with Napoli
  • The centre-back suffered the injury at the start of 2022 and has not played a game since then
  • However, he looks set to make a return to action after he was spotted taking part in training with the Man United first team

Manchester United centre-back, Axel Tuanzebe looks set to make a return to action soon after months on the sidelines.

The Englishman has not played a game for a year now, with his last appearance coming back in January 2022.

At the time, the defender was plying his trade in the Serie A with Napoli where he was on loan from Man United.

Axel Tuanzebe, Manchester United, Carrington Training Ground, Napoli, Premier League.
Axel Tuanzebe in action during a first team training session at the Carrington training ground. Photo by John Peters.
Source: Getty Images

According to Metro UK, Tuanzebe shot to prominence from the Red Devils’ academy and was tipped to become a regular.

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Tuanzebe's injuries woes

However, injuries have plagued his progress, with the one he suffered at Napoli dealing him a major blow.

The 25-year-old had come on as a substitute for the Italian side during their Coppa Italia loss to Fiorentina, when he picked up a back injury.

The injury has left him sidelined for more than 370 days, with the centre-back yet to return to action.

As for Man United, he has not played for them for close to two years, having last played for the Red Devils during the 2021 Europa League Final loss to Villarreal.

Tuanzebe set for return

The England international now looks set to return to action after he recently resumed training.

Tuanzebe has been working on his way back to full fitness and has been actively engaged in individual training over the last month.

Manchester Evening News reports that the centre-back is using a zero-gravity running machine as part of a personal training plan.

On Monday, he was spotted training with the Man United first team and all indications now show he could make a comeback soon.

However, he will be facing stiff competition in his bid to break into the first XI, with Raphael Varane, Lisandro Martinez, Harry Maguire and Victor Lindelof all ahead of him in the pecking order.

Man United XI vs Nottingham

Earlier, Sports Brief reported on Man United being without key players when they take on Nottingham Forest in the first leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final fixture.

The two Premier League teams are scheduled to face off on Wednesday night, January 25, with a place in the final of the tournament at stake.

The match comes just days after United were dealt a massive blow in their Premier League title bid, from a 3-2 heartbreaking defeat against rivals Arsenal.

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Fred Kennedy
Fred Kennedy has a Bachelor's degree in journalism (Daystar University), currently working as a Sports Editor. He has more than five years of experience in digital journalism.
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