Manchester United’s preparations for the Premier League fixture against Tottenham Hotspur have been disrupted by fresh fitness setbacks, with manager Michael Carrick confirming that defender Patrick Dorgu faces a period on the sidelines. Speaking during his pre-match press conference at the Carrington training complex, Carrick reported that the 21-year-old sustained a hamstring injury while on international duty with Denmark that will keep him out for several weeks.
Carrick’s update, corroborated by reports from UnitedInFocus and TransferNewsLive, also clarified that Noussair Mazraoui is a significant doubt for the match at Old Trafford after returning from international duty with a knock. The club currently sits 12th in the Premier League table with five points from five matches, placing additional pressure on the manager to navigate an extensive list of absentees. Carrick told the media: “Patrick came off and it looks like he will be out for probably a number of weeks. Nous came off and took a knock. He’s not quite right yet, so we’ll see how he is.”
Defensive Concerns and Long-Term Absentees
The loss of Dorgu compounds a defensive crisis that has left Carrick short of options. With Mazraoui facing a late fitness test, the manager faces difficult decisions regarding his back line for the visit of Tottenham. The situation is exacerbated by the absence of Manuel Ugarte, who is recovering from a severe ACL injury sustained during the summer. According to reports, the midfielder underwent successful knee surgery in July and is not expected to feature again until 2027. The squad’s depth is being severely tested, with several other senior players managing recovery plans as the team attempts to secure their first clean sheet of the league campaign.
Carlos Baleba Nearing Return
While the injury news regarding Dorgu is negative, Manchester United have received encouraging updates concerning Carlos Baleba. The midfielder, who signed for a fee of £70 million in August, has yet to make his competitive debut for the club following an ankle injury sustained prior to his arrival from Brighton & Hove Albion. According to the BBC, Baleba has completed extensive training sessions and participated in a behind-closed-doors friendly against Lausanne-Sport, raising hopes that he could be available for selection against Tottenham. The 22-year-old was specifically targeted to anchor the midfield—a position that has lacked defensive solidity since the departure of Casemiro in May. Given the current instability in the centre of the pitch, Baleba’s return is viewed as a significant potential boost to United’s tactical setup.
Squad Availability Ahead of Defining Period
Beyond Dorgu and Mazraoui, Carrick confirmed that striker Benjamin Sesko will not feature against Tottenham due to a recurring shin injury. Carrick stated: “Ben is further away, with the issue he has got. He won’t be ready.” The unavailability of key personnel extends to other attacking and midfield options, with Kobbie Mainoo, Marcus Rashford, and Amad Diallo having only completed limited training sessions following their respective fitness concerns. United now enter a crucial period in their season, with a challenging run of domestic fixtures followed by Champions League encounters against Atletico Madrid and Como. Carrick’s ability to rotate his squad will remain limited in the immediate future, making the availability of players like Baleba increasingly critical to managing the team’s workload through the autumn months.