Man United Injury Update: Shaw, Baleba, Amad, and De Ligt Returns

Manchester United walked out of the Carabao Cup in midweek. They also walked away from it still carrying a sizeable injury list.

Six first‑team players were missing for the defeat to Brighton & Hove Albion at Old Trafford on Wednesday night, and only one of them has a realistic chance of being involved before the international break ends: Luke Shaw.

Lisandro Martinez and Patrick Dorgu were also absent from the matchday squad against Brighton, but the more worrying picture sits behind them – a core of players yet to kick a ball this season.

Amad: pre-season promise on hold

Amad’s summer ended with momentum. He featured in United’s final four friendlies and looked set to carve out a role in Michael Carrick’s squad.

Then came a niggle in the final days of pre-season. It has kept the Ivory Coast winger out of United’s first six competitive games.

Carrick addressed his situation on Tuesday. “Amad, not quite close in terms of days, but we’ll see as the week progresses,” he said before the Brighton tie.

He didn’t make it. Now the focus turns to Fulham away on Sunday. Five days on from those comments, United will discover whether that “not quite close” has edged into contention. If he misses Craven Cottage, the expectation is that his return will be pushed back until after the international break.

Carlos Baleba: close to a first glimpse

Carlos Baleba is still waiting for his United debut. The summer signing arrived carrying an ankle ligament injury from pre-season and has been stuck in rehab ever since.

The mood around his recovery has shifted, though. The midfielder has recently stepped up his work and is edging back towards the main group.

Speaking before facing Baleba’s former club Brighton, Carrick offered a clear marker. “He’ll be back in and around the group at some point over the next week or so,” the head coach said. “So that means after international, he should be in good shape. Carlos came being injured, and then he’s desperate to get out there and be part of the group and training fully with the boys.”

That points to a post-break return, with United finally able to see what their new signing can bring to a midfield still searching for rhythm.

Luke Shaw: the short-term hope

Shaw is the one with a genuine shot at facing Fulham.

The left-back started United’s first three Premier League matches before a thigh problem halted his run. He has missed the last week but was present at Old Trafford on Wednesday, a sign he is not far away.

Carrick had already hinted that Brighton might come too soon. “He could possibly be fit for Brighton, it’s not clear-cut. But it’s a matter of a few days rather than anything else,” he said.

Those “few days” now lead straight into Sunday. If Shaw comes through, he should reclaim his place, likely keeping Patrick Dorgu out of the starting XI again after his recent rest.

Matthijs de Ligt: long road, cautious steps

Matthijs de Ligt’s absence has quietly become one of the longest-running stories at the club.

It is now around ten and a half months since the defender last played for United, back in late November, before a back injury and subsequent surgery shut him down. He returned to training with his team-mates roughly five and a half weeks ago, but the final step – a competitive appearance – remains out of reach.

Carrick is refusing to circle a date on the calendar. “Matta’s just working his way back, really, so because of the time frame and how it’s been, I don’t really want to put too much time frame on it,” he said on Tuesday.

What is clear is that De Ligt will not be back before this international break. The target sits somewhere beyond it, with another month to go before the next pause in the schedule.

Manuel Ugarte: the long-term absentee

Manuel Ugarte is the one United know they will be without for the long haul.

The Uruguay midfielder suffered a knee ligament injury at the World Cup in the summer and underwent surgery in mid-July. His recovery continues at Carrington, working closely with the club’s medical and performance staff.

United’s last official update confirmed the operation “was a success” but warned he “faced a long path to a full recovery” and is “currently progressing”. The club expect that he will almost certainly not play again before the end of 2026.

There remains a sliver of hope that, if his rehab goes perfectly, he could feature before this season is out. That hinges entirely on how his knee responds in the coming months.

Tom Heaton: veteran still sidelined

Tom Heaton’s absence has flown under the radar, but it continues to shape United’s goalkeeping options.

The veteran suffered a hamstring injury in the pre-season friendly against Paris Saint-Germain and has not been available since. Had he been fit, he would almost certainly have taken a place on the bench against Brighton.

Instead, Senne Lammens provided cover as Karl Darlow made his debut. Dermot Mee was also drafted into the Champions League squad against Sabah last week, another sign of Heaton’s continued lay-off.

United now head to Fulham with Shaw as the only realistic short-term boost and a cluster of key players stuck on the outside looking in. With the season beginning to take shape, how long can Carrick’s side keep pace while waiting for so many important pieces to finally fall back into place?