Man United set for huge injury boosts after international break

Man United set for huge injury boosts after international break Manchester United Injury Update: Sesko Concern, Baleba Close, De Ligt Near Return Manchester United go into the international break needing more than a reset. Michael Carrick has one win in five, the latest result a flat draw at Fulham, and the mood around the squad is shaped as much by fitness as form. When results wobble, availability matters. Right now, United are still waiting on several key players. There were at least two small positives at Craven Cottage. Luke Shaw recovered from a knock and started, while Mason Mount got minutes back into his legs. That helps, but it does not change the broader picture. Benjamin Sesko missed out, Amad Diallo remains unavailable, and several others are working towards a return. With Tottenham up next after the break, Carrick needs bodies back, and he needs some of them quickly. Benjamin Sesko injury leaves United short up front The main concern is Sesko. United signed him to lead the line, stretch defences and give them presence in the box. Instead, his season has already been stop-start. The shin problem that troubled him at the end of last season has flared up again, and that is rarely what you want to hear with this type of issue. Photo IMAGO He was injured when Liverpool visited Old Trafford in May, then spent the opening phase of the current campaign trying to get back to full speed. He did not start a match until the Champions League tie against Sabah. Now he is back on the sidelines. Carrick offered a brief update after the Fulham game, saying: “It was a pain in his shin. “We’re not sure with him yet. He felt a bit of pain after the game. We’re assessing him. He definitely wasn’t ready for today.” That is not especially revealing, but it tells you enough. The club are still assessing him, there is no fixed return date, and Tottenham may arrive too soon if there is any lingering discomfort. United will hope the break gives him a chance to settle it down, but shin issues can drag if they are mishandled. Carlos Baleba and Amad Diallo could return for Tottenham Carlos Baleba has yet to make his competitive debut, which is not ideal when you have spent £70m on a midfielder and need energy in the centre of the pitch. The good news is that he is moving in the right direction. The Cameroon international arrived carrying an ankle injury, has returned to training, and was included in the matchday squad against Fulham for the first time. That matters. It means he is close, and it gives Carrick another option in a position where United have looked leggy and loose at times. The international break should help him build fitness and sharpen his understanding with team-mates. The current target looks obvious, Tottenham at home on October 10. Amad Diallo is on a similar timeline, though with less visible progress. He has not featured at all this season after suffering an ankle injury late in pre-season. The estimate at the time was up to six weeks, and there has been little since to suggest a dramatic change. Carrick had already made it clear that recovery was still being measured in weeks rather than days before the defeat to Brighton. Photo: IMAGO So the expectation is straightforward. If all goes well, Amad should be pushing to return after the break. Whether he starts is a different question, but simply having him available would improve United’s attacking depth. Matthijs de Ligt recovery offers defensive lift Matthijs de Ligt has been out for a long time. He has not played competitively for United since November 2025, when he suffered a lower back injury against Crystal Palace. What was initially described as minor turned into surgery and a lengthy lay-off, one severe enough to rule him out of the Netherlands’ World Cup campaign. Photo IMAGO Now there are signs of movement. He travelled with the squad to Fulham, even if he was not named in the matchday group. On its own, that does not guarantee anything, but players do not make those trips for decoration. It usually means the return is no longer distant. United have lacked authority and calm at the back. If De Ligt is fit enough to contend for Tottenham, that gives Carrick a serious boost. He may need minutes managed carefully, but availability changes the equation. Long-term Manchester United injuries still limit depth Not everyone is close. Manuel Ugarte is facing the long road back after surgery on a ruptured ACL suffered at the World Cup earlier this summer. He is in rehabilitation at Carrington and is expected to miss most of the season. Realistically, his return sits in spring or summer 2027. Tom Heaton is also still out after a hamstring injury picked up in a pre-season friendly against Paris Saint-Germain. As third-choice goalkeeper, his absence does not shift the weekly narrative, but it remains another unavailable player on the list. So this is where United stand. Shaw is back, Mount is back in the mix, Baleba is close, Amad is building, De Ligt is nearing contention, and Sesko is the one causing the most concern. That is the blunt version. For Carrick, the next three weeks are about getting players fit and getting clarity. Tottenham at Old Trafford already looks important. If United want an upturn, they need more than better intentions. They need better players available.