Goalkeeper injuries can linger because the job is so specific.
Tullis-Joyce had appeared to build real momentum in the squad before the setback. For a team trying to keep standards high across a long season, having a senior keeper moving in the right direction matters.
Individual work is encouraging, but it is not the final checkpoint.
That distinction matters. A keeper can look sharp in isolated drills and still need time before the club is ready to expose her to the full speed and unpredictability of collective training.
The update also matters beyond one player. Squad health shapes rhythm, selection and planning, especially in pre-season and the early stretch of a campaign. Tullis-Joyce, who joined from OL Reign in 2023 after a spell in France, gives United another experienced option in a crucial position when fit.
The next storyline is straightforward: when Tullis-Joyce rejoins full training, and how quickly that leads to selection. If that step comes soon, Manchester United will head into the next phase of the season with one less fitness question hanging over them.