Manchester United have suffered another injury setback, with Benjamin Sesko ruled out of contention as Michael Carrick delivered a mixed update on the squad’s fitness ahead of their next fixture.
The United boss confirmed that Sesko remains some distance from returning, while Patrick Dorgu is expected to spend several weeks on the sidelines after picking up an injury. However, there is more encouraging news regarding Amad Diallo, Kobbie Mainoo and Marcus Rashford, who have all resumed limited training.
Carrick provided updates on several first-team players, with United continuing to assess their options as they look to navigate their upcoming fixtures without losing further ground.
“Ben [Sesko] is further away with the injury he has, so he won’t be ready.”
Sesko’s continued absence will be a blow to United, particularly as the club look to maintain attacking options and manage the demands of a busy schedule. The forward is not yet close enough to return, meaning Carrick will have to consider alternative solutions in attack.
There was also disappointing news regarding Dorgu, who appears set for an extended spell out after being forced off with an injury.
“Patrick [Dorgu] came off and looks like he’ll be out for a number of weeks.”
Dorgu’s absence adds to United’s selection concerns, leaving Carrick with another player unavailable for the coming weeks. His recovery timeline will be closely monitored as the club assess the impact on their options across the pitch.
On a more positive note, Carlos Baleba is making progress and has been able to build up his training workload.
“Carlos [Baleba] is improving, has trained a lot.”
The midfielder’s progress offers encouragement, although his precise availability will depend on how he responds to the increased training demands. United will be keen to ensure that any returning player is sufficiently prepared before being thrown back into competitive action.
Carrick also revealed that Amad, Mainoo and Rashford have completed some training, raising hopes that the trio could move closer to being available.
“Amad, Kobbie and Marcus have done a little bit of training.”
The update will provide a lift for United, with the three players offering different qualities that could strengthen the manager’s options once they are ready to return. However, limited training does not automatically guarantee immediate selection, and their fitness will need to be assessed before any final decisions are made.
Noussair Mazraoui is another player whose situation remains uncertain after taking a knock.
“Nouss [Mazraoui] came off and took a knock. He’s not quite right, so we’ll see how he is.”
Mazraoui’s condition will require further monitoring, leaving Carrick waiting for a clearer picture before determining whether the defender can feature in the next match.
The latest update leaves Manchester United balancing setbacks with signs of progress. Sesko is not ready to return, Dorgu faces weeks out, and Mazraoui remains a doubt, while Baleba continues to improve and three other players have resumed some training.
Carrick’s immediate challenge will be finding the right combination from the players available while avoiding unnecessary risks with those recovering from injury. With the schedule demanding consistency and squad depth, United will hope the returning players can step up their recovery in the days ahead.
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