Michael Carrick Prepares for Premier League Opener with Hull City
Michael Carrick is set to welcome back one of his big attacking weapons for the Premier League opener – but he will have to wait a little longer for his new defensive linchpin.
The Manchester United head coach revealed that Benjamin Sesko is in line to return to the squad for Saturday’s trip to newly promoted Hull City, while Mason Mount is a doubt and Matthijs de Ligt has been ruled out.
Sesko back in the frame
Sesko did not play a single minute in pre-season as he recovered from a shin injury that had troubled him since last season. He pushed through the pain during the run-in, only for the problem to flare up again in the win over Liverpool at Old Trafford in May.
That setback kept him at Carrington while United played six pre-season fixtures without him.
This week, though, brought a change. The striker has rejoined full training with the group and is now under consideration for the bench at the MKM Stadium.
He will not start – the club are clear about his lack of match sharpness – but his presence alone is a lift for Carrick, who has been short of options at centre-forward.
“Ben [Sesko] is back training. So that's again another positive,” Carrick said. “Looking forward to having him back around the group and getting him some minutes as well.”
Mount ‘touch-and-go’ after pre-season knock
While Sesko steps back into the fold, Mount hovers on the brink.
The midfielder picked up a knock in pre-season and, if he misses Hull, will have sat out three games, including two friendlies, just as he was starting to build rhythm.
Carrick, though, brushed aside any suggestion of a major issue.
“I think, first of all, Mason is a top player. Top player,” he said. “I think we've seen that so far pre-season. He was one of our best players in the early stages in the games that he played in. I thought he was fantastic.
“And he's picked up a little bit of a knock. There's no drama. It's maybe, it's been a week or so, 10 days or whatever it's been. So it's nothing major.”
United are treading carefully. Mount’s recent years have been punctured by spells on the sidelines, and Carrick is determined not to repeat that pattern.
“He wants to be fit, he wants to be in that full rhythm, and he wants to stay fit,” Carrick added. “So we're doing our best to help him do that, but he's a top player, Mason.
“It's the same as the group. We've got to manage the squad. There's going to be injuries through the season. We've got to have a squad that's strong enough to have a really good top starting team with the depth to carry us through the season.
“Mason will be back very, very soon, if not immediately, so it's all good.”
For Hull, though, his involvement is “touch-and-go”, with next week a more realistic target if he does not make the cut.
De Ligt out, Darlow in contention
At the back, United will have to wait for De Ligt’s competitive debut.
The Dutch defender is still working through his rehabilitation after back surgery. He has returned to training but will not be risked in the Premier League opener.
“Matt [De Ligt] has obviously been out for a long period of time, but he's training and great to have him back,” Carrick said. “Well, he won't be involved, but he's in good shape and moving in a good direction. So that's really a good bonus for us really at this stage to have him back.”
The approach is clear: long-term gain over short-term temptation.
There is better news in goal. New signing Karl Darlow has trained all week and is in contention to be included in the matchday squad.
“Yeah, Karl [Darlow] has trained this week. He's back training, so he's in good shape,” Carrick confirmed.
First trip to Hull in nine years
United’s visit to Hull will be their first since 2017. A lot has changed since then, not least the hosts’ status.
The Tigers are back in the Premier League after nine years away, climbing out of the Championship via the play-offs last season. The stadium will be loud, the occasion raw, the sense of opportunity obvious.
Carrick knows what awaits.
“As you'd expect, really looking forward to another season, you know,” he said. “They come thick and fast, so it's about making the most of everything that's in front of us really.
“And really encouraged with the work we've done in pre-season on the training ground, mostly in the games I think's been really good. So yeah, very much looking forward to the first game and a tough one on Saturday.”
A promoted side, a charged atmosphere, a reshaped United squad with key pieces still easing their way back. The season starts in Hull – and Carrick’s management of bodies and minutes will be under the microscope from the very first whistle.
