Manchester United have been handed a clearer timeline for when Carlos Baleba could finally make his Old Trafford debut.
Baleba is now closing in on completing his move from Brighton & Hove Albion to United.
The midfielder has already passed his medical, with an official announcement expected today after the two clubs agreed a £70 million deal.
United supporters are desperate to see their new midfield powerhouse in action, but an ankle injury currently stands in the way.
According to Sky Sports journalist Danyal Khan, Baleba is expected to return to action around the middle of September.
The Red Devils face Manchester City and Fulham on September 13 and 20 respectively.
The club are unlikely to rush their new signing back, meaning his competitive debut could come after the next international break.
If his recovery stays on track, Baleba could make his Old Trafford bow against Tottenham Hotspur on October 10.
United entered the transfer window with a clear objective of bolstering their midfield.
Bringing in the Cameroon international alongside Andrey Santos and Youri Tielemans represents a major step towards achieving that goal.
Santos and Tielemans endured difficult competitive debuts during United’s disappointing 2-0 defeat against Hull City last weekend.
It was a night to forget for the Red Devils, but one poor performance should not be enough to determine the quality of either midfielder.
The former Aston Villa star could flourish alongside Baleba, whose explosive athleticism and ball-winning ability could add a completely different dimension to the midfield.
Stats from Fotmob.com
