Man United Injury Update: Cunha, Sesko, Mount, De Ligt Status After Milan Loss
Manchester United signed off a stuttering pre-season with defeat to AC Milan on Saturday, and Michael Carrick’s preparations for the Premier League opener at Hull City were framed by one question: who will actually be fit?
Carrick went into the Milan game already stripped of several senior players. For a brief, anxious moment, it looked like the list might grow.
Cunha scare eases
Matheus Cunha hit the turf, the medical team rushed on, and United hearts skipped. The Brazilian needed treatment during the clash with Milan, raising fears of another name joining the absentee column.
He got back up. He carried on. And he showed no sign of discomfort before being withdrawn shortly after the hour mark.
United view it as nothing more than a knock. Barring any late reaction, Cunha is expected to be available for Hull on August 22 and should come into Carrick’s thinking for the starting XI.
Injury: Knock
Likely return: Hull (August 22)
De Ligt back on the grass, not yet in contention
Matthijs de Ligt remains the big defensive question mark.
The Dutch centre-back has not played for United since November and is still working his way back from back surgery. There is progress: he has returned to training on grass and travelled with the squad to the Republic of Ireland for this week’s camp.
What there isn’t yet is a timeline. United have given no indication of when he might be ready for competitive action, and he will not feature at Hull.
Injury: Back
Likely return: Unknown
Heaton’s “innocuous” problem proves costly
Tom Heaton’s hamstring issue, picked up against PSG in Gothenburg, initially looked minor. He walked off, Dermot Mee came on, and there was little visible alarm on the touchline.
The scans told a different story. As revealed in Notebook, the 38-year-old is facing at least a few weeks out and will discover the full extent of the damage next weekend. United are braced for him to miss the start of the league campaign.
Everton at Old Trafford on September 6 is emerging as a realistic target for his return.
Injury: Hamstring
Likely return: Everton (September 6)
Mount a doubt for Hull but not far away
When Mason Mount trudged off less than 20 minutes into the friendly against PSG, the mood around United dipped sharply. A serious setback for a key midfielder was the last thing Carrick needed.
The immediate signs were kinder. Mount left the stadium walking freely, with no limp, and initial fears eased. Even so, he has not played since. The England international missed both of United’s final pre-season games, against Leeds and AC Milan.
Given that lack of minutes, Mount is unlikely to walk straight into the starting XI at Hull. United still hope he can at least make the matchday squad if he comes through the final days of training unscathed.
Injury: Foot
Likely return: Hull (August 22, squad hopeful)
Sesko still sidelined, Mbeumo to lead the line
Benjamin Sesko’s stop-start end to last season has rolled into the new campaign.
The Slovenian striker suffered a shin injury in the win over Liverpool in early May and has been managing the after-effects since. The internal plan, as outlined in Notebook earlier in the summer, was for Sesko to feature in one of the late pre-season friendlies.
That didn’t happen. He was absent again from the squad against Milan, and with no match action for months, his chances of being involved at Hull look slim.
Bryan Mbeumo is effectively locked in to start up front on opening weekend. For Sesko, a more realistic short-term aim is a place in the squad for the trip to Ipswich on August 30.
Injury: Shin
Likely return: Ipswich (August 30)
Ugarte faces the long road back
Manuel Ugarte’s situation is the most severe of all.
The Uruguay midfielder suffered major knee ligament damage in his country’s World Cup defeat to Spain in June and had to be stretchered off. He later posted an emotional message on social media, calling it “the most serious injury a footballer can face” and reflecting on the blow of being forced off in such a significant game.
Ugarte vowed to use the setback as a source of strength. The reality is brutal: United do not expect him back in competitive action until 2027.
Injury: Knee ligament
Likely return: 2027
Darlow yet to feature
New signing Karl Darlow has been managing a pre-existing issue since arriving at Old Trafford.
The problem is not thought to be serious, but it has been enough to keep him out of every pre-season squad. United have not put a public date on his return, and he remains one to monitor over the coming weeks.
Injury: Unspecified
Likely return: Not confirmed
United now head into Hull week juggling optimism over Cunha and Mount with uncertainty around De Ligt, concern over Heaton and Sesko, and the long shadow of Ugarte’s absence. Carrick’s first team-sheet of the season will say plenty about who has healed – and who still has a long way to go.
