Man United Injury Update: Cunha, Mount, and More
Manchester United’s pre-season ended with a defeat to AC Milan on Saturday, but Michael Carrick’s biggest concern was never the scoreline. It was the bodies.
Several first-team players were already missing before a ball was kicked, and when Matheus Cunha went down under a challenge, there was a sharp intake of breath on the United bench. For a moment, it looked like the injury list was about to grow again.
It didn’t.
Cunha received treatment on the pitch, got back to his feet and carried on until just after the hour mark. No limp, no visible discomfort, no sense of a problem lingering. All signs point to the Brazilian being available for the Premier League opener at Hull City on August 22.
Cunha and Mount: Different levels of concern
Matheus Cunha – Knock
Cunha’s scare against Milan appears to have been just that. He finished his shift without issue before being replaced and showed no after-effects of the knock. Barring any late reaction, he should be in contention to start at Hull.
- Possible return date: Hull (A), August 22
Mason Mount – Foot
Mount’s situation is more delicate. He lasted less than 20 minutes against PSG in Gothenburg and walked off raising serious alarm. Those fears eased when he later left the stadium without a limp, but his absence since then has told its own story.
He missed the friendlies against Leeds and AC Milan, and with no minutes in United’s final two pre-season games, it would be a surprise to see him walk straight into the starting XI at Hull. The hope is that he at least makes the matchday squad.
- Possible return date: Hull (A), August 22
De Ligt steps up recovery, Heaton waits on scan
Matthijs de Ligt – Back
De Ligt has not played for United since November after undergoing back surgery. The defender has moved to the next phase of his rehab, now back training on grass and included in the squad’s camp in the Republic of Ireland.
What he doesn’t yet have is a clear return date. United are being careful. There is progress, but no timeline.
- Possible return date: Unknown
Tom Heaton – Hamstring
Tom Heaton’s injury looked harmless at first. He came off against PSG in Gothenburg, replaced by Dermot Mee, with no real sense of panic around the dugout.
The diagnosis has been less forgiving. The hamstring issue is more serious than initially thought, and he faces at least a few weeks out. He will discover the full extent of the damage next weekend, but the early expectation is that he could be back around the trip to Everton.
- Possible return date: Everton (A), September 6
Sesko behind schedule as Mbeumo steps up
Benjamin Sesko – Shin
Sesko has been fighting a shin problem since the win over Liverpool in early May. The plan was clear: build him up to feature in one of United’s later pre-season friendlies.
That target has been missed. He played no part against Milan, and with so long out, match sharpness is a real issue. Bryan Mbeumo is effectively locked in to start at Hull, and Sesko will likely have to watch from home.
Ipswich away the following week might be a more realistic aim for at least a place on the bench.
- Possible return date: Ipswich (A), August 30
Ugarte faces the long road back
Manuel Ugarte – Knee ligament
Manuel Ugarte’s season – and much more than that – changed in a single moment in June. Stretchered off in Uruguay’s World Cup defeat to Spain, the midfielder later revealed he had suffered one of the most serious injuries a footballer can face.
On social media, he described it as “hitting rock bottom” in one of the biggest matches in his country’s history, but vowed to come back stronger and treat it as a new beginning. United know they are planning long-term with him now.
- Possible return date: 2027
Karl Darlow – Unknown
Karl Darlow arrived at Old Trafford carrying a pre-existing issue and has been kept out of all pre-season squads. The problem is not believed to be serious, yet it has been restrictive enough to deny him a single minute so far.
United expect him to be available once his recovery is complete, but for now, he remains on the outside looking in.
Hull away is coming fast. Carrick will hope the next week brings clarity, not fresh problems.
