Manchester United Injury Update: Sesko, Mount, De Ligt Status Before Kick-Off

Manchester United are one game away from the real thing and Michael Carrick knows it. AC Milan in pre-season today, Hull City in the Premier League in seven days. One more friendly to navigate. One more 90 minutes where the priority is almost not the result, but getting everyone back in one piece.

That already looks a tall order.

Carrick’s squad is carrying more than a few bumps and bruises. Benjamin Sesko hasn’t kicked a ball all summer. Mason Mount has disappeared from the final stretch of friendlies. Matthijs de Ligt is still feeling his way back after surgery. And behind them, a supporting cast of walking wounded is forcing early-season reshuffles.

Injury Status

Here’s where United stand with a week to go.

Matthijs de Ligt – Back

De Ligt has not played for United since November. Back surgery cut his season short and his comeback has been slow and carefully managed.

The defender is now back on the grass and joined the squad at their training camp in the Republic of Ireland this week, a significant step in his rehabilitation. But there is no clear indication yet of when he will be ready to take contact, let alone return to competitive action.

For Carrick, that uncertainty lingers over his defensive plans. De Ligt is edging closer, but Hull will come too soon.

Possible return date: Unknown

Tom Heaton – Hamstring

What looked like a routine substitution has turned into a problem.

Tom Heaton came off against PSG in Gothenburg with what initially seemed a minor issue. There was no panic on the pitch, no urgent signals to the bench. Dermot Mee replaced him and the game moved on.

The diagnosis has not been so relaxed. As revealed in Notebook this week, Heaton is facing at least a few weeks out with a hamstring injury and will discover the full extent of the damage next weekend.

United will need to lean on their depth in goal earlier than expected.

Possible return date: Everton, September 6

Mason Mount – Foot

When Mason Mount walked off less than 20 minutes into the PSG game, United fans feared the worst. Early in pre-season, a key midfielder, no contact needed to end his night. It had all the signs of a nightmare scenario.

The mood shifted when he was later seen leaving the stadium without a limp. The panic eased, but not the caution.

Mount missed the friendly with Leeds and has not been named in the squad to face AC Milan. That absence from the final two friendlies is decisive: he will not start at Hull.

Carrick still hopes to have him involved in some capacity. If his recovery continues as expected, Mount could yet make the bench and offer United a different gear in the second half.

Possible return date: Hull, August 22

Benjamin Sesko – Shin

This was supposed to be the summer Benjamin Sesko announced himself in a United shirt. Instead, it has been a long wait.

He suffered a shin injury in the win over Liverpool in early May and has not featured at all in pre-season. The plan, as outlined in Notebook earlier in the summer, was for Sesko to play in one of the later friendlies. That target has been missed. His name is not on the team sheet against Milan.

Match sharpness now becomes the issue. Bryan Mbeumo is virtually guaranteed to start at Hull, with Sesko lacking minutes and rhythm. At this stage, even a place on the bench next week looks unlikely.

Realistically, the trip to Ipswich the following week feels like his first genuine chance of making a squad.

Possible return date: Ipswich, August 30

Manuel Ugarte – Knee ligament

Manuel Ugarte’s situation is the darkest of all.

The midfielder was stretchered off in Uruguay’s World Cup defeat to Spain in June, suffering a serious knee ligament injury in the biggest game of his international career.

He later addressed the blow on social media, calling it “the most serious injury a footballer can face” and reflecting on the pain of leaving the pitch when his country needed him most. He spoke about hitting rock bottom, about being forced to stop, and about choosing to draw strength from it.

United know they will be without him for a very long time.

Possible return date: 2027

Karl Darlow – Unknown

Karl Darlow arrived at United already managing a pre-existing issue. It has kept him out of every pre-season squad so far.

The problem is not believed to be serious, but the clock is ticking on his integration. With Heaton sidelined, every available goalkeeper suddenly matters more.