The embattled manager has been handed a surprise stay of execution at Old Trafford despite an abysmal start to his first full season in charge continuing with dreadful heavy defeats by Como and Bournemouth.
asserted
manager → hand → Como
Carrick is expected to be given the chance to turn things around at United and remains at the helm for another difficult-looking game away at Chelsea in Saturday’s lunchtime Premier League kick-off.
asserted
Carrick → expect → off
Carrick will be desperate to have a stronger squad to choose from in another crucial game that could well define his future.
uncertain
that → have → future
A new update has finally been provided on Benjamin Sesko’s lingering shin injury.
asserted
update → provide → injury
The Slovenian’s 2025/26 campaign was cut short by the same issue, with the striker recovering to feature in the first games of this season.
asserted
striker → cut → season
Sesko was involved in varying capacities until being absent for the trip to Fulham, and since the international break the towering forward has been sidelined once more.
asserted
forward → involve → break
Standard Sport now understands that Sesko will be out until at least January, leaving the Red Devils short up top for two more months.
asserted
Sesko → understand → months
“Yeah, not so positive unfortunately with Ben, he's going to be out for a period of time,” Carrick said before the trip to Chelsea.
asserted
Carrick → go → Chelsea
“We're not exactly sure yet how long, but it's going to be a significant amount of time, unfortunately.
asserted
it → go → time
“So I feel for Ben, he had the issue at the end of last season that we looked after and tried to give him as much time to recover and then unfortunately he's had the issue coming into this season.
asserted
he → feel → season
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“So, we've got to do what's best for Ben and he's going to have to have some time on the sidelines, unfortunately.
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he → read → sidelines
“It's not great for us, it's certainly not great for Ben, but it is part of the game and we've just got to try and make the best of it
asserted
we → get → it
get him back as quick as we can.
asserted
we → get → him
Potential return date: January
Bruno Fernandes
There may be a slight positive over Bruno Fernandes and Carrick’s public falling out.
uncertain
Fernandes → fall → ?
After the two exchanged pointed messages in the press following the heavy defeat by Como last week, Carrick left out his captain for the 3-0 loss at home to Bournemouth.
asserted
Carrick → exchange → Bournemouth
Fernandes remained on the bench, briefly warming up but not coming on as United struggled to lay a glove on the Cherries.
asserted
United → remain → Cherries
Manager and skipper held talks to clear the air this week, indicating that Fernandes will return for Saturday’s trip to Chelsea.
asserted
Fernandes → hold → Chelsea
Carrick labelled dropping Fernandes as a "pure football" decision at the time, but he may also have inadvertently rested his star, who has struggled with an unspecified injury issue for weeks now that was highlighted while he was away with Portugal.
uncertain
he → label → Portugal
On Monday when the United squad were given the day off, Fernandes and other sidelined players were at Carrington for treatment, suggesting he is still carrying a knock.
However, as he has previously played through the injury, it seems unlikely that Fernandes will need to miss any games.
asserted
Fernandes → give → games
However, he was then omitted from the travelling squad for the Como game, and also missed Sunday’s defeat by Bournemouth.
asserted
he → omit → Bournemouth
Speaking ahead of the Como loss, Carrick said: “Marcus is still feeling a hip issue that we're trying to overcome.”
asserted
we → speak → that
No specific details have been provided about a potential return date, though Rashford has been back in the gym this week and could be pushing for involvement against Chelsea.
uncertain
Rashford → provide → Chelsea
Before the Como loss, Carrick implied that Mainoo would be back in “10 days or so”.
asserted
Mainoo → imply → days
He has since returned to training at Carrington and looks set to be involved against Chelsea.
asserted
He → return → Chelsea
“Yeah, it's great to have Kobbie back,” Carrick said on Thursday.
asserted
Carrick → have → Thursday
“He's a fantastic footballer, we know that.
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we → know → that
“He hasn't trained an awful lot, he's trained a little bit, so we'll see how he is going into the weekend, but nevertheless, it's a good step for us in the right direction.”
asserted
it → train → direction
Beyond the issue being described as a knock, not much is known about Shaw’s latest injury, which has caused chaos in defence as Carrick shuffles players across the backline.
asserted
Carrick → describe → backline
Per Carrick, Shaw was expected to be sidelined for longer than Mainoo - but how much longer is not clear.
asserted
longer → expect → Mainoo
Potential return date: November
Patrick Dorgu
Patrick Dorgu picked up a hamstring issue while playing for Denmark during the last international break, with a return not expected until November at the earliest.
asserted
return → pick → earliest
The last timeframe provided by Carrick was before the Spurs game at the start of October.
asserted
timeframe → provide → October
Speaking about Dorgu, the manager said: “It looks like he'll be out for a number of weeks.”
asserted
he → speak → weeks
Potential return date: Late November
Manuel Ugarte
Manuel Ugarte is United’s longest-term injury absentee, with the Red Devils set to be missing the midfielder until 2027.
asserted
Devils → set → 2027
He was stretchered off with knee ligament damage during Uruguay’s 1-0 defeat by Spain at the World Cup in June.
asserted
He → stretchere → June
He underwent surgery and is still a long way away from a return to the pitch.
asserted
He → undergo → pitch
The Aporia
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