Michael Carrick Updates on Sesko, Mount, and De Ligt Ahead of Premier League Opener
Michael Carrick expects Benjamin Sesko to rejoin his Manchester United squad for the Premier League opener at Hull on Saturday, but Mason Mount is a doubt and Matthijs de Ligt has been ruled out.
Sesko has not played a single minute of pre-season after a shin injury flared up at the end of last term. He pushed through the problem during the run-in but aggravated it in the win over Liverpool at Old Trafford in May, then stayed behind at Carrington while United played six friendlies without him.
This week, the picture has changed. The Slovenian striker is back in full training and, while he is nowhere near ready to start at the MKM Stadium, his return at least gives Carrick another option on the bench.
“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’s situation is more delicate. What was initially described as a minor knock has now stretched towards the three-game mark. If he misses Hull, he will have sat out two pre-season friendlies and the league opener.
“And then we are managing Mason [Mount] a little bit, but he's very close,” Carrick explained. “So it's touch-and-go for the weekend really, if not going into next week.”
Carrick moved quickly to shut down any concern over Mount’s wider fitness record.
“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.
“Yeah, of course, he's missed some football over recent years and he wants to be fit, he wants to be in that full rhythm, and he wants to stay fit. 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.”
At the back, De Ligt is the headline absentee. The Dutch defender has stepped up his work after back surgery and is now back on the grass with the group, but United are refusing to rush the final phase of his recovery.
“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.”
There is better news in goal. New signing Karl Darlow is in contention after a full week’s work at Carrington.
“Yeah, Karl [Darlow] has trained this week. He's back training, so he's in good shape,” Carrick confirmed.
United head to Hull for the first time since 2017, facing a club riding a wave. The Tigers are back in the Premier League after nine years away, having forced their way up through the play-offs last season. A promoted side, a packed home crowd, an opening day with something to prove: it has all the makings of an awkward assignment.
Carrick, though, sounded energised rather than anxious.
“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.”
Sesko edging back, Mount racing the clock, De Ligt held back for the longer haul: Carrick’s first big selection call of the campaign arrives in a stadium ready to welcome the Premier League back with a roar.
