Fosu-Mensah feels positive after comeback game

The Dutchman suffered a serious knee problem last April during his loan spell with Fulham and, since then, he has quietly been working hard on his comeback at the Aon Training Complex, with support from Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, the club’s diligent fitness staff and his Reds team-mates. 

Fosu-Mensah began training with the first-team squad again in February and, in a significant step forward, he was fit enough to represent our Under-23s against Stoke City this week. He was joined in the side by fellow long-term absentee Axel Tuanzebe, as goals from James Garner (2) and Angel Gomes earned a 3-2 win.

Tim was named in the starting XI by lead coach Neil Wood and completed the match, helping the youngsters to secure an entertaining 3-2 victory over the Potters at their bet365 Stadium. 

“It was very important for me,” Fosu-Mensah told us on Monday evening. “As you know it was a big injury and I feel blessed to be able to play again, and I'm happy to have these 90 minutes under my belt. I feel fit, yeah. The fitness coaches have been working me very hard so I feel good.”

Looking back on his long period of absence from senior football, which dates all the way back to 13 April 2019, Fosu-Mensah admits it has been difficult but he remains determined to come back stronger. 

“It has been crazy,” says Tim. “It is the first big injury of my career and it has almost been one year out. It has been a big test, but I have so many good people around me to keep me motivated, to keep me working hard. Obviously, my team-mates keep motivated me and keep saying the right things to me, so I keep going. For sure it has been hard, but the work has been good.”

After such a serious injury, Fosu-Mensah presumably requires time to rebuild his fitness and match sharpness. Yet he is clear in his ambition to play a role in United’s season run-in, as he explained. “The most important thing is to keep my body healthy and keep my mind healthy.

“I have good people around me, the people at the club are being good for me. So I am going to keep my body healthy, work hard and fight for this club.”

Reading this in our app? If not, you might miss some exclusive features not found on ManUtd.com. Download the Official App here.