Matthijs de Ligt wants to finally get back on the pitch before the season ends. He’s 26 now, and he’s been out since November with a stubborn back problem. At first, doctors thought he’d miss just a week, but it’s dragged on for months and really messed up his year.

Even Michael Carrick has admitted he isn’t sure if De Ligt will play again before the Premier League season wraps up on May 24. Still, De Ligt’s hoping for a return before then. He’s desperate to get fit and catch the eye of the Netherlands squad selectors ahead of the World Cup. Making the national team won’t be easy, though the competition is fierce. Virgil van Dijk, Micky van de Ven, Nathan Ake, Stefan de Vrij, Jan Paul van Hecke, Jurrien Timber, and Jorrel Hato have all been called up for upcoming friendlies under Ronald Koeman.

And even at Manchester United, De Ligt can’t just waltz back into the starting lineup. Harry Maguire’s enjoying quite a comeback, and Leny Yoro keeps getting better after stepping in for the injured Lisandro Martinez.

United’s next match is at home against Leeds on Monday, April 13, but Maguire’s out; he’s suspended after that red card in last Friday’s 2-2 draw with Bournemouth. Carrick’s hoping Martinez will be healthy enough to step in, but 19-year-old Ayden Heaven could also get a shot.

De Ligt hasn’t played a minute since Carrick took over as interim manager in January, following Ruben Amorim’s departure. Before the injury, De Ligt was a mainstay, starting all 13 of United’s league games.

Reporters caught up with Carrick last week and asked how De Ligt’s recovery was going, since he’d been spotted back at Carrington. Carrick just said, “It’s difficult to say, just because it’s taken that much time. With backs, sometimes you think it’s fine, and then suddenly it’s not. We’re being patient and working through it. We’ll give him time and try to get him back as quickly as we can, but it’s really difficult to say.”

As for possible surgery, Carrick wasn’t giving much away. “I don’t want to get into that at this stage. We’ll try anything we can to help, and we’re working through it now. I’m not hiding anything. He’s getting better, just not as fast as we’d all like.”

Manchester United’s impressive run under caretaker manager Michael Carrick hit a bump at Bournemouth, with Harry Maguire’s red card turning a potential win into a 2-2 draw. Still, the fact that they managed to secure a point hints at the direction they're heading.

United had the lead at 2-1 with just 12 minutes left and were only four points behind their fierce rivals, Manchester City. Then Maguire, on the day he was celebrating a return to the England squad and circulating contract rumours, made a reckless foul on Evanilson that handed Bournemouth a penalty.

Junior Kroupi, who scored a late equaliser in the memorable 4-4 draw between these teams last December, calmly converted the spot-kick. That goal snatched a point for Bournemouth, which had seemed unlikely when United first took the lead.

Bruno Fernandes, the captain, put United ahead from the penalty spot after 61 minutes. But Ryan Christie quickly pegged them back before an own goal by James Hill pushed United back in front at 2-1.

Fans in the away section were likely glancing at the league table, imagining narrowing the gap on City and dreaming of qualifying for the Champions League next season.

Yet in football, momentum can shift unexpectedly. Maguire’s rash challenge not only changed the game but also shifted the outlook for United supporters. His red card means he’ll miss the next game against Leeds at Old Trafford.

Meanwhile, City had a weekend off from the Premier League to focus on the Carabao Cup Final against Arsenal at Wembley. Still, given the circumstances, Pep Guardiola’s side might be a bit anxious about United gaining ground, a situation few would have predicted five months ago.

But United missed an opportunity to pile on the pressure. On the upside, they are seven points clear of Chelsea in sixth and only six off the top two spots. So, the season is far from over.

It wasn’t the finish Carrick would have hoped for, but his impact since stepping in for Amorim has been remarkable, with 23 points earned under his watch.

The challenge Bournemouth posed wasn’t a surprise. Just like at Old Trafford, they showed they can compete with anyone, extending their unbeaten run to 11 games, though seven of those draws suggest some missed chances themselves.

United will leave with mixed feelings: frustration at dropping points, yet maybe some pride in how they battled to hold on.

Carrick has reshaped what was a disjointed squad into a more dynamic, attacking team that has quality where it counts and character to spare. His decision to reinstate Kobbie Mainoo, who had been previously overlooked under the struggling Amorim, reflects this transformation.

Mainoo has thrived since returning, starting this match fresh off being named in the England squad, amid talks of a contract extension.

Carrick has also repositioned Bruno Fernandes closer to the goal, where he arguably always belonged. The result has been Fernandes firing on all cylinders with goals and assists, once again proving pivotal against Bournemouth.

Given the wild 4-4 draw earlier this season, expectations of a tame game seemed low. Early on, chances flew both ways: Amad Diallo’s shot was saved, and Bournemouth countered quickly, but Tavernier missed a clean breakaway.

Cunha forced another save from Petrovic before Fernandes was denied at close range following a clever move.

The second half brought more drama. United went ahead after Cunha earned a penalty from Jiminez, which Fernandes calmly converted. But controversy reared when Bournemouth’s breakout goal came shortly after Truffert appeared to foul Diallo in the box. After a long VAR review, no penalty was given, and Bournemouth’s goal stood.

United believed the win was theirs when Bournemouth turned a Fernandes corner into an own goal. Then Maguire’s foul and Kroupi’s penalty snatched that dream away.

Still, United showed resilience in the final moments to hold on for a point, a sign, perhaps, that positive change is underway.