Manchester United defender Ayden Heaven is on the road to recovery after suffering an injury against Leicester City.
Heaven was stretchered off in the second half following a collision with Patson Daka, raising concerns about his availability for the rest of the season. However, there is now a clearer timeline for his return.
In the post match interview, Man United head coach Ruben Amorim told Sky Sports News: “It’s hard to know because we have to evaluate during the week. He already played well against Arsenal and Real Sociedad. Today for me was the most difficult game for him because we expect him to relax a bit, but he was so focused.”
Despite the initial fears, the 18-year-old provided a positive update on Instagram, saying he is “doing really well and recovering fast.”
He left the stadium in a protective boot but did not require crutches, suggesting the injury is not as severe as first thought.
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Kitman Labs’s CEO reveal injury return timeline for Ayden Heaven
According to Stephen Smith, CEO of Kitman Labs, Heaven could be back within the next three to six weeks. Speaking to Express Sport, Smith analyzed the nature of the injury and possible recovery timeline.
“It looks like it could be an ankle ligament sprain as his lower leg wobbles underneath him. Equally, it could be a Peroneal Tendon Strain,” Smith said.
“Alternatively, it could be a minor leg fracture, hairline fracture, or a stress fracture. Again, given where he is holding his leg, this could indicate a fibular fracture. Typically, with these types of injuries, it can vary between three to six weeks depending on the specific issue.”
If the recovery takes the full six weeks, Heaven could return against Bournemouth in the Premier League on April 27.
In the meantime, he is set to miss crucial matches, including league fixtures against Nottingham Forest, Manchester City, Newcastle United, and Wolverhampton Wanderers.
He could also be unavailable for both legs of Manchester United’s Europa League quarter-final clash with Lyon.
A return in early May would put Heaven back in contention for a potential Europa League semi-final, should United advance past Lyon.
While his absence is a setback, the young defender has already made a strong impression since joining from Arsenal in January.
His performances have been vital, especially with injuries to senior players like Harry Maguire, Lisandro Martinez, Leny Yoro, and Jonny Evans.
With Heaven making steady progress, United fans will be hoping to see him back in action sooner rather than later.
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