Christian Eriksen admits he felt ‘pretty stable’ after Andy Carroll’s HORROR tackle in January

Christian Eriksen has reflected on the questionable challenge from Reading’s Andy Carroll that left him sidelined for three months. 

The Danish playmaker made his return to first-team action on Saturday afternoon as Manchester United cruised to a 2-0 win over Everton, at Old Trafford.

Eriksen, 31, made a 13-minute cameo in the match as he took his first steps on the pitch since suffering the ankle injury at the start of the calendar year. 

And, as he prepares to play a bigger role in the remainder of their season, he’s finally had his say on the tackle that left him injured for so long.

When asked about the challenge, Eriksen told the United club website: ‘Yeah, I felt something. Normally, if you roll your ankle, you feel a bit of awareness and I actually stood up and I felt fine, I felt pretty stable.

Christian Eriksen has reflected on the tackle that left him sidelined for over three months

The United midfielder was tackled by Reading’s Andy Carroll during an FA cup tie in January 

‘But then I did feel like something else. I felt my calf and higher up. I thought I might just skip it and then we scored so it was like perfect. 

‘We’re winning 1-0 against Reading so let’s call it a day and hopefully it’s nothing serious. But then it was.’

During the FA Cup tie in January, Eriksen was caught by a late challenge from Carroll and was later seen leaving Old Trafford using a pair crutches.

Carroll escaped punishment from referee Darren England for his lunge on Eriksen during, before being sent off for two fouls in five minutes on Tyrell Malacia and Casemiro.

Eriksen also revealed that the decision to not book Carroll for the challenge left him bemused. When asked about if wanted vengeance on the striker, he said: ‘No, I’m not that type of person.

‘Maybe in ’99 it was different but no, not that. For me, it was more the thing I was surprised he didn’t get a yellow card or anything like that. But, no, I’m not in that way [of getting revenge].’

Speaking after the match, at the time, United boss Erik ten Hag did not hold back when giving his own opinion on the injury caused by Carroll’s challenge.

Ten Hag said: ‘Football has to set limits, restrictions, that you protect the players. What football wants is the best players to be available on the pitch.

Reading, and former Liverpool, striker Andy Carroll committed a number of rash tackles against United before eventually being sent off in their January clash

United coach Erik ten Hag did not hold back when scrutinising the challenges made by Carroll 

‘This tackle, and the two tackles after, they don’t belong on a pitch because there is a high risk to injure your colleague so it’s worse. I was also wondering at Crystal Palace when there is an elbow on Martinez. 

‘No-one is interfering. I’m wondering about such things because there is a risk of injury for the player.’

Asked if former Newcastle favourite Carroll set out to injure his players, Ten Hag replied: ‘I make my view about it. 

‘It was clear what my thoughts were. It happens in top football. It shouldn’t have happened but it did, and you have to deal with it.’ 

Eriksen made his long-awaited return to action for United in their win over Everton on Saturday

Former Tottenham midfielder, Eriksen, made his long-awaited return to action for Man United in their recent weekend win over Everton. 

The Danish international came off the bench to make a brief cameo in the Premier League affair, with the match all ready wrapped up.

United had stormed to a two-goal advantage prior to Eriksen’s introduction, thanks to goals from Anthony Martial and Scott McTominay. 

The Dane’s next opportunity on the pitch may come in United’s upcoming Europa League clash with Sevilla on Thursday night.