Manchester United have one clear positive ahead of their Champions League trip to Atletico Madrid, Matthijs de Ligt is back in the travelling squad. After close to a year out with a back problem, the Dutch defender is finally in position to rejoin the group for a serious European night.

This does not mean he walks straight into Michael Carrick’s team. It means United have an experienced centre-back available again, and given how uneven their season has been, that matters. Carrick needs stability, and De Ligt, if fit enough, can offer exactly that.

De Ligt has not played competitively since suffering the injury against Crystal Palace. United have been careful with him. He travelled with the squad to Fulham before the international break but was not included in the matchday group. That was the clue. The club were edging him back, not rushing him.

He then featured in a behind-closed-doors game against Lausanne-Sport, and that appears to have convinced the staff he is ready for the next step. Atletico Madrid away is a difficult environment, physical, hostile and demanding. United will need defenders who can cope with that.

There is bad news alongside the good. Kobbie Mainoo and Luke Shaw have both been left behind after picking up knocks in the 1-1 draw with Tottenham. Carrick confirmed the pair would miss the trip, which leaves United lighter in midfield and short again on the left side of defence.

That is the broader issue here. One returning player helps, but it does not clean up the bigger picture. United are 12th in the Premier League, the start has been poor, and the pressure has grown. Dominic Solanke’s late goal against ten-man Tottenham did not create a crisis, but it did sharpen the questions around this side.

United opened their league phase campaign with a 4-0 win over Sabah. Useful, but not especially revealing. Atletico away will be. This is a tougher opponent, a tougher atmosphere and a better measure of where Carrick’s team actually are.

De Ligt’s return gives United something they have lacked for months, depth and presence at the back. Whether it changes the result is another matter.