Manchester United confirm extent of Bailly’s knee injury

Eric Bailly will miss Manchester United’s final two matches of the season with medial ligament damage, the club have confirmed.

The Ivory Coast international was forced off midway through the second half of United’s 1-1 draw with Chelsea on Sunday after a collision with Mateo Kovacic.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side have now confirmed Bailly’s season is over and the 25-year-old will also miss the Africa Cup of Nations with Ivory Coast.

“We can confirm that Manchester United defender Eric Bailly suffered a medial ligament injury on his right knee during Sunday’s Premier League match against Chelsea at Old Trafford,” a statement read on the club’s official website.

“The problem means that the Ivory Coast international will not play for the Reds again this season, missing the remaining top-flight matches against Huddersfield Town and Cardiff City.

“Furthermore, Bailly is also now unable to play in the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations tournament.”

News of Bailly’s injury is a hammer blow for his prospects of representing Ivory Coast this summer but he will at least be fit in time for a pre-season.

Bailly may have played his final game for United, having dropped completely out of favour at Old Trafford this season.

Arsenal are lining up a summer move for the centre-back, though his preference is to remain at United.

Since the beginning of last season, United have a better win ratio when Bailly has started in the Premier League (68.4%) compared to when he hasn’t featured from the off (56.4%).