Michael Carrick Faces Depleted Squad as Man United Return to Champions League Against Sabah
Manchester United make their return to the Champions League on Thursday night against Azerbaijani debutants Sabah with a significantly depleted squad, as head coach Michael Carrick navigates a lengthy injury list just days before Sunday’s Manchester derby against Manchester City.
The match marks United’s first appearance in the competition’s new league phase format and their first Champions League fixture in two seasons, taking place under the lights at Old Trafford. Among the confirmed absentees, Ivorian winger Amad Diallo remains sidelined after suffering an ankle injury on the eve of the season and has yet to feature for the club at all this campaign, with no firm return date currently set. Centre-back Matthijs de Ligt also continues to work his way back from a long-term back problem sustained last November, with Carrick saying the Dutchman has been training well but stressing the need to carefully manage the final stages of his recovery. “It’s positive. He’s trained really well but we’re still managing it,” Carrick said, adding that it was important to get the balance right as De Ligt worked toward full fitness.
Adding to the uncertainty, left-back Luke Shaw was absent from training on Wednesday, prompting fresh injury concerns just a day before the Sabah tie. Carrick moved quickly to downplay the significance of his absence, explaining it as a planned recovery measure rather than a new fitness setback. “We just gave him an extra recovery day so we’ll see by tomorrow how he is, but it’s not an ongoing thing or a plan. It’s normal each individual has different things that we manage,” Carrick said. Shaw remains the squad’s only recognised senior left-back, meaning youngster Harry Amass could be in contention to feature should Shaw be unavailable, with United also mindful of managing his fitness ahead of Sunday’s derby.
Elsewhere, Marcus Rashford’s own fitness picture has improved after he was withdrawn during United’s 2-2 draw with Everton at the weekend having felt discomfort, but he trained on Wednesday and appears set to be available for selection, even if Carrick opts to keep him among the substitutes. Mason Mount’s availability remains less clear, with conflicting reports over the extent of his fitness issue. Further back in the squad, midfielder Manuel Ugarte continues a lengthy recovery from a serious ligament injury sustained on international duty at this summer’s World Cup, expected to keep him sidelined for the majority of the season, while summer signing Carlos Baleba has also yet to make his United debut after arriving in Manchester already carrying an ankle injury.
With such a lengthy list of absentees, Carrick faces a delicate balancing act between fielding a strong enough side to secure victory over Sabah and managing the fitness of key players with Sunday’s derby against Manchester City looming large. Forward Benjamin Sesko, who has been working his way back from a troublesome shin issue, could be handed his first start of the season, with Carrick saying the striker was close to full fitness and had already shown his quality with an important goal for the club last season.
United will be hoping to kick off their long-awaited return to Europe’s premier competition with a positive result against clear underdogs in Sabah, even as the club’s growing injury concerns continue to complicate Carrick’s early months in permanent charge.
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