Man United's Injury Concerns Ahead of Hull Opener

Manchester United’s pre-season ended with a defeat to AC Milan and a familiar feeling for Michael Carrick: too many key players in the treatment room, not enough certainty before the Premier League kicks off at Hull City next week.

The 90 minutes against Milan brought a scare, a few answers, and plenty of lingering questions.

Cunha scare eases after Milan knock

For a moment, Old Trafford hearts were in mouths. Matheus Cunha went down against Milan, called the physios on, and the mood dipped.

He got back up.

The Brazilian forward was treated on the pitch but played on until just after the hour mark, showing no obvious discomfort from what was later described as a knock. No limp, no ice packs, no urgent dash down the tunnel. All the signs point to him being available for Hull on August 22.

Barring any late reaction in training, Cunha should be in the frame to start the season.

De Ligt steps up recovery but no return date

At the other end of the spectrum sits Matthijs de Ligt, still waiting to kick a ball for United since November.

The Dutch defender is working his way back from back surgery and has at least taken an important step: he’s back training on grass and travelled with the squad to the Republic of Ireland for this week’s camp. That’s progress, but not a timeline.

United have yet to put any kind of date on his competitive return. For now, De Ligt remains a long-term rehabilitation project rather than an option for Carrick’s back line.

Heaton faces weeks out after PSG blow

Tom Heaton’s setback in Gothenburg initially looked minor. It isn’t.

The experienced goalkeeper felt his hamstring in the friendly against PSG and was replaced by Dermot Mee without any obvious alarm on the pitch. Subsequent assessment has painted a darker picture.

Heaton is expected to spend at least a few weeks on the sidelines and is targeting the Everton game on September 6 as a realistic return point, depending on how the injury responds.

Mount’s foot issue clouds Hull selection

Mason Mount’s early withdrawal against PSG sparked immediate fears of a serious problem. Those eased quickly when he was later seen walking away from the stadium without a limp.

The relief has been tempered by his absence since.

Mount has missed both of United’s final friendlies of the summer, against Leeds and AC Milan. That lack of minutes makes a starting spot at Hull unlikely, even if he edges back into contention for the matchday squad.

The hope inside the club is that he will be fit enough to make the bench on August 22. Whether Carrick risks him from the outset is another matter.

Sesko still sidelined as Mbeumo steps up

Benjamin Sesko’s shin injury, picked up in the win over Liverpool in early May, continues to drag on.

The plan earlier in the summer was clear: get him some minutes in one of the late pre-season games. His absence from the squad against Milan confirmed that target has been missed, leaving him short of rhythm and sharpness.

With that in mind, Bryan Mbeumo is virtually guaranteed to start at Hull. Sesko has gone too long without playing to be thrown straight back in, and even a place on the bench would be optimistic at this stage.

Ipswich away on August 30 now looks a more realistic date for his first involvement of the campaign.

Ugarte faces long road back

The most brutal story on United’s injury list belongs to Manuel Ugarte.

The midfielder suffered a serious knee ligament injury in Uruguay’s World Cup defeat to Spain in June and had to be taken off on a stretcher. He later described it as “the most serious injury a footballer can face” and spoke about hitting “rock bottom” in an emotional message on social media.

United are planning without him for the long haul. His possible return date is listed as 2027, underlining the scale of the challenge ahead.

Darlow still waiting for first involvement

Karl Darlow has yet to feature in a United shirt.

The goalkeeper has been managing a pre-existing issue since signing and did not appear in a single pre-season squad. The problem is not thought to be serious, but it has been enough to delay his integration into Carrick’s matchday plans.

With Hull fast approaching, United’s squad is already being stretched and shaped by injury. The question now is simple: who can stay fit long enough to turn a patchwork pre-season into a convincing start?