Manchester United's Injury Woes Ahead of Ipswich Clash
Manchester United will limp into their Old Trafford opener with a threadbare squad and the pressure already cranked up on Michael Carrick.
A flat 2-0 defeat at Hull on the opening weekend has left United chasing their first points of the season, and they will have to do it without at least nine senior players when Ipswich arrive on Sunday.
Carrick’s options cut down
Carrick’s big new signing, Carlos Baleba, will be watching from the stands. The £70million midfielder, brought in from Brighton to add power and precision to United’s engine room, is still nursing an ankle problem picked up in pre-season.
"He's got a little ankle issue, so maybe a couple of weeks or so, three weeks. We knew that before. It's no major issue. It'll be great to have him back," Carrick said, underlining that United will have to be patient before they see their investment in action.
He is far from the only absentee.
Amad, the £37m signing from 2021, will also sit this one out. The winger, who missed the defeat at Hull, remains sidelined with a minor injury sustained in training.
"Amad won't be involved, he'll be out for a little bit longer," Carrick confirmed, removing another attacking option from his bench at a time when United badly need a spark.
Mason Mount will not feature either, but there is at least a sliver of good news there. The midfielder has stepped up his recovery and rejoined the group at Carrington.
"Mase is back around the group, he trained this week, so a real positive," Carrick said. United will still be without his energy and creativity against Ipswich, but his return to training hints at a shorter wait.
De Ligt close, but not quite ready
At the back, Matthijs De Ligt remains a long-term absentee, though his situation is finally turning.
"Matta's obviously been out for a long period of time. But he's training and it's great to have him back. He won't be involved, but he's in good shape and moving in a good direction, so that's a good bonus for us really, at this stage, to have him back," Carrick explained.
United have had to reshape their defence without the Dutchman, and while his return to full training is a major step, the wait for his first competitive minutes of the season goes on.
Behind them, even the goalkeeping department has taken a hit. Veteran reserve Tom Heaton will also miss the Ipswich clash after picking up an injury in the pre-season friendly against PSG. Carrick has not yet put a date on his comeback, leaving United lighter on experienced cover between the posts.
Stack those names up, add the usual knocks and niggles, and Carrick is left juggling a depleted squad for a game that already feels important.
Ipswich light on numbers too
Ipswich do not arrive at Old Trafford unscathed either.
Jaden Philogene, absent for the win over Sunderland, remains out with an ankle issue. Florentino Luis, who also missed that victory, continues to be ruled out by a calf injury. Azor Matusiwa, sidelined last week with a thigh problem, is again unavailable.
Four missing for Ipswich, at least nine for United. The absences tell their own story.
What matters now is how Carrick’s patched-up side responds to that early-season setback at Hull. With Old Trafford watching and Ipswich buoyed by opening-day momentum, this already feels like more than just matchday two.
