Michael Carrick will return to Premier League action under considerable pressure and dealing with a growing injury crisis.
asserted
Carrick → return → crisis
Manchester United have taken just five points from a possible 15 in the Premier League this season, and have also been dumped out of the Carabao Cup.
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United → take → Cup
With a crunch fixture against struggling Tottenham looming immediately after the break, Carrick will hope to have as strong a squad at his disposal as possible.
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Carrick → struggle → disposal
Bruno Fernandes was the first casualty of the international break for United when he was hooked in Portugal’s Nations League meeting with Wales.
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he → hook → Wales
He has played a role in every United match so far this season.
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He → play → match
He was withdrawn in the 90th minute to be replaced by Joao Neves, but head coach Jorge Jesus gave a concerning assessment of his fitness at full-time.
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Jesus → withdraw → time
He revealed Fernandes had come into the international break managing a “complicated” pre-existing injury: “The medical team identified these two players as the most concerning, Nuno Mendes could be available for the game.
uncertain
Mendes → reveal → game
“The other case [Fernandes] involves treatment and recovery time.
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Fernandes → involve → treatment
He’s coming off an injury at United, and he told me he’s been playing with that pain for the last three games, which is hindering him.
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which → come → him
“It was one of the factors that prevented Bruno from playing at his best against Wales.”
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that → prevent → Wales
He missed Portugal’s next match against Norway, but Jesus is optimistic he will be able to feature against Denmark in their third match of the international break.
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he → miss → break
Should he miss that game, though, alarm bells will be ringing at Carrington.
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bells → miss → Carrington
Potential return date: October 1 vs Denmark (A)
Marcus Rashford
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He had landed awkwardly after a heavy tackle, which dumped him out of play, though he was OK to continue after receiving treatment.
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he → read → treatment
"We had to bring him off, as he had a bit of an issue.
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he → bring → issue
I'm not sure [if he's alright],” said Carrick after the Fulham match.
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Carrick → say → match
It is hoped he will have shaken off that knock by the time Tottenham visit Old Trafford next month.
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Tottenham → hop → Trafford
Potential return date: October 10 vs Tottenham (H)
Kobbie Mainoo
No clear reason has been given for his withdrawal, though, and he is not thought to be injured.
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he → give → withdrawal
As such, it is hoped he can feature as soon as United reconvene after the international break.
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United → hop → break
Potential return date: October 10 vs Tottenham (H)
Patrick Dorgu
Patrick Dorgu has suffered perhaps the most concerning injury of the international break so far.
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Dorgu → suffer → break
He started for Denmark as they faced Wales, but went down off the ball with half an hour played and hobbled off.
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hour → start → ball
He appeared to have suffered a hamstring problem which may sideline him for some time.
uncertain
which → appear → time
Potential return date: Unknown
Amad Diallo
Amad Diallo is yet to feature for United this season after suffering an ankle injury in the summer.
Speaking before the international break, Carrick suggested he was a matter of weeks away from returning, and there is hope he can feature during the visit of Tottenham.
uncertain
he → feature → Tottenham
Potential return date: October 10 vs Tottenham (H)
Benjamin Sesko
He had seemed to be back at full fitness after starting against Sabah, but was a surprise absentee for the trip to Fulham.
Carrick confirmed: “It was a pain in his shin.
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It → seem → shin
We’re not sure with him yet.
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We → ’re → him
He felt a bit of pain after the game.
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He → feel → game
We’re assessing him.
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We → assess → him
He decided against representing Slovenia during the international break, but it remains to be seen whether he will be fit to represent United after it.
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he → decide → it
Potential return date: Unknown
Matthijs de Ligt
Matthijs de Ligt is rapidly approaching a full year on the sidelines with a back injury sustained at Crystal Palace in November 2025.
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Ligt → approach → November
He seems to be approaching a return to the pitch after undergoing surgery in May.
uncertain
He → seem → May
He travelled to Fulham with his team-mates despite not being named in the matchday squad, and will hope to be passed fit after a further three weeks of recovery.
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He → travel → recovery
Potential return date: October 10 vs Tottenham (H)
Karl Darlow
Backup goalkeeper Karl Darlow was another victim of the international break, dropping out of the Wales squad citing injury.
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Darlow → drop → injury
Potential return date: Unknown
Manuel Ugarte
Manuel Ugarte remains in recovery after undergoing surgery to repair a torn ACL suffered representing Uruguay at the World Cup.
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Ugarte → remain → Cup
He is set to miss the vast majority of the season, but, after being transfer-listed last summer, it remains to be seen whether he will play for the club again.
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he → set → club
Potential return date: Spring/summer 2027
Tom Heaton
United’s third-choice shot-stopper has been absent throughout this season with a hamstring injury sustained in a pre-season friendly against Paris Saint-Germain last month.
asserted
stopper → sustain → Germain
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