Man United facing a number of injury concerns as struggles continue

Man United facing a number of injury concerns as struggles continue Manchester United Injury News: Bruno Fernandes Concern Grows Before Chelsea Test Manchester United have bigger problems than a bad afternoon against Bournemouth, but the 3-0 defeat at Old Trafford summed up where they are. Flat, short of confidence, short of rhythm and, in several positions, short of players. Eight matches without a win is not a blip. It is a trend, and injuries are part of it. There was at least one small mercy from the Bournemouth game. No new injuries were reported. At a club where the treatment room has been busier than the pitch, that counts as good news. It does not solve much, but Michael Carrick will take whatever he can get before the trip to Chelsea. The larger issue is the number of first-team players either unavailable or doubtful, with Bruno Fernandes now part of that conversation. Add Marcus Rashford, Kobbie Mainoo, Luke Shaw, Patrick Dorgu, Benjamin Sesko and Manuel Ugarte to the list and it becomes obvious why United look patched together. Photo IMAGO Bruno Fernandes fitness concern deepens Fernandes is the one that matters most. Captain, creator, emotional barometer, and often the player dragging this team through matches by force of will. He has been managing an injury for some time and turned up at Carrington on Monday for treatment while the rest of the squad had the day off. His omission against Bournemouth raised eyebrows. Days earlier he had questioned Carrick’s tactical approach after the 4-1 defeat to Como, yet the manager insisted leaving him out was a “pure football” decision. Fine, except Fernandes stayed on the bench, United needed invention, and he did not even warm up until the 58th minute. That tells its own story. Right now there is no clear return date. Whether this is a manageable issue or something more serious remains unclear, but United do not have many players capable of replacing what Fernandes gives them in possession and in the final third. Potential return date: Unknown Marcus Rashford and Kobbie Mainoo offer mixed outlook Rashford remains sidelined with a hip problem. Carrick said: “Marcus is still feeling a hip issue that we’re trying to overcome,” and there has been little since then to suggest an immediate return is close. He was an unused substitute against Leeds, then absent entirely against Bournemouth. That usually points to a player who is not ready to contribute at any meaningful level. Mainoo is a slightly different case. He has missed the last four games with what has been described as a muscle issue, and the updates have been minimal. Before the loss to Como, Carrick said the midfielder would be out for another “10 days or so”. If that estimate holds, Mainoo could be in the frame for Chelsea. For a side lacking control in midfield, that matters. Mainoo gives composure, balance and the ability to progress the ball under pressure. United have missed that badly. Potential return date, Rashford: Unknown Potential return date, Mainoo: October 31 vs Chelsea (A) Luke Shaw and Patrick Dorgu leave left side exposed Shaw’s absence has forced yet another reshuffle at left-back. Ayden Heaven, Diogo Dalot and Noussair Mazraoui have all been used there, which tells you United are improvising rather than solving the problem. Shaw was again missing against Bournemouth and Carrick has indicated he is likely to be out longer than Mainoo. That is not ideal. United need experience and structure in wide areas, and Shaw, when fit, provides both. The problem is that “when fit” has become a recurring caveat. Dorgu is also out after suffering a hamstring injury while playing for Denmark against Wales. He went off after half an hour and returned to Carrington for assessment. Carrick did not sound optimistic when he said: “It looks like he’ll be out for a number of weeks.” That suggests a November return at best. Potential return date, Shaw: Unknown Potential return date, Dorgu: November Sesko setback and Ugarte long-term blow Sesko’s season has yet to get going properly. A shin injury ended his 2025/26 campaign early and delayed his involvement this term, and just when it looked like he was back after appearances against Hull, Ipswich, Everton, Sabah, Manchester City and Brighton, he dropped out again. He missed the Fulham trip and has sat out the last three matches since the international break. Carrick has admitted it is too early to put a timeframe on the striker’s comeback. That uncertainty is the problem. United need goals and presence up front, and Sesko cannot help them from the stands. Then there is Ugarte, whose situation is the most serious of the lot. He has not played a single minute this season after suffering a ligament injury for Uruguay at the World Cup. He was stretchered off in the 1-0 defeat to Spain and is not expected back until 2027. That is a major absence in any squad, especially one already lacking bite and reliability in midfield. Potential return date, Sesko: Unknown Potential return date, Ugarte: Spring/Summer 2027 For now, United head to Chelsea hoping for reinforcements, but hope is cheap. The hard reality is that several key players remain unavailable, Fernandes is now a worry, and a team already struggling for form has very little margin for error left.