Michael Carrick is already facing a number of injury concerns as he gears up for his first season as Manchester United’s permanent head coach.
An extended pre-season campaign has seen new signings make positive impressions, but he has also seen two key players knocked out of contention, with another sidelined after an unfortunate injury at the World Cup.
There are also multiple injuries hanging over from last season, namely to Matthijs de Ligt.
Carrick will hope to welcome some fresh faces back to training ahead of this weekend’s Premier League opener away at Hull City, but as things stand, he could be without as many as six players.
With that said, here is all the latest Manchester United injury news and potential return dates...
Benjamin Sesko
Benjamin Sesko is still in recovery from a shin injury suffered while facing Liverpool towards the end of last season.
The Slovenian striker had an unfortunate collision with the advertising hoardings after coming off worse in a fifty-fifty with Ibrahima Konate.
That injury came in early May and Sesko is yet to return to the pitch, having sat out United’s full pre-season programme.
It had been hoped we would be ready to feature before the end of the summer, but that target has gone unfulfilled.
He is, however, back in training, and it is hoped he will be fit in the near future, though Saturday’s Premier League opener may come too soon.
Potential return date: August 30 vs Ipswich Town (H)
Mason Mount
Much of Mason Mount’s Manchester United career has been defined by injuries, and the summer of 2026 has been no different. After putting in a handful of impressive performances next to Andrey Santos in a deeper midfield role, he was struck down with a foot injury against PSG and hooked with 20 minutes played.
He has since missed friendlies against both Leeds and AC Milan.
"He just got a kick," said Carrick after the PSG match. "So we just wanted [it] to be a precaution really, to look after him.”
Provided his absence from the Milan friendly was also out of an abundance of caution, he could be fit to feature against Hull.
Potential return date: August 22 vs Hull City (A)
Matthijs de Ligt
Matthijs de Ligt has been sidelined with a mysterious back injury since November 2025, but finally seems to be approaching a return to the pitch after undergoing surgery earlier this summer.
He is, at long last, back in team training, but no concrete update has recently been offered as to when he might return to competitive play.
Potential return date: Autumn/winter 2026
Karl Darlow
Karl Darlow signed for Man United from Leeds earlier this summer as a backup to Senne Lammens, but arrived with an unspecified minor injury.
That has prevented him from playing any part in the club’s pre-season campaign, but reports suggest the injury is not severe and he will be ready to feature in matchday squads for United soon.
Carrick will likely offer a more concrete update on his condition when he previews United’s trip to Hull.
Potential return date: August 22 vs Hull City (A)
Manuel Ugarte
Manuel Ugarte was one of various United players linked with a move away from the club after he played a distinctly peripheral role in the latter stages of the previous campaign, but a wrench was tossed into those plans when he ruptured his ACL representing Uruguay at the World Cup.
He was stretchered off during the match against Spain and has since undergone surgery.
Writing on Instagram after the fact, he said he had ‘hit rock bottom’ and would ‘be back stronger’.
Ugarte has been pictured back at Carrington, but is not expected to feature any time soon, with an ACL rupture generally requiring a minimum of six months in recovery.
Potential return date: Spring/summer 2027
Tom Heaton
Tom Heaton is another United star to have picked up an injury during pre-season, with his coming against PSG.
He is reportedly facing weeks out with a hamstring injury, but will soon undergo scans to determine the extent of the injury.
Such a return timeline would see him miss the first couple matchdays of the Premier League season.
Potential return date: September 6 vs Everton (A)
