Manchester United Travel to Fulham Without Sesko but Gain Key Players
Manchester United travel to Fulham without Benjamin Sesko, but Michael Carrick’s squad has not boarded the train to London empty-handed.
The United boss has lost his striker, yet gained a timely triple boost.
Sesko missing as United head south
As the squad departed from Stockport Station on Saturday afternoon for Sunday’s clash at Craven Cottage, Sesko was nowhere to be seen. His absence from the travelling party casts serious doubt over his involvement against Fulham and strips United of their main centre-forward option.
It is a blow. Sesko has quickly become a focal point, even in a side where Carrick is not afraid to go without a recognised No 9.
The picture elsewhere is brighter.
Carlos Baleba, Luke Shaw and Matthijs de Ligt all made the journey, offering United fresh legs and much-needed depth in key areas after a bruising week.
Triple boost for Carrick
Carrick had already hinted there was hope on the injury front. Asked about Shaw and Baleba’s chances of making the weekend, he said:
"There's kind of a chance with both of them. Don't know totally 100 per cent yet. It's short-term [with Shaw], we're just working toward the game."
The manager has been eager to integrate Baleba properly after his arrival, and the midfielder is edging closer to that moment.
"We're looking good. Everyone's up and running. Over the last week or so, pretty much everyone has played and [been] fit and we're trying to get Carlos back in.
"Well, I say back in, actually introducing him into the group. So he's done a bit of training this week and, hopefully, we'll get Luke [Shaw] back in and around it this week and look forward to a strong game on the weekend."
Baleba, in particular, has clearly made an impression behind the scenes.
"Yeah, he's desperate to get started. He's bouncing around the place. It's not always easy, I think, when you come into a new club and you're not right fully in with the group, with the training.
"But he's dealt with that ever so well, I have to say. He's got great personality and he's full of enthusiasm around [the place] and pushing to get back as quickly as possible. So it's great to have him back."
His energy could be exactly what United need in the middle of the park after a draining run of fixtures.
Pressure on after bruising week
United arrive in west London under pressure. Defeat in the Manchester derby has been followed by a Carabao Cup third-round exit to Brighton, and the mood around the club has darkened.
They need three points. Nothing less.
Carrick has already shown he is willing to tweak his system and go with a fluid, striker-less attack if required, a route that now looks more likely with Sesko sidelined. The onus will fall on the likes of Marcus Rashford and the attacking midfielders to carry the threat.
Who made the trip?
United’s travelling squad for Fulham includes a strong defensive and midfield core, even with questions over final fitness calls:
- Goalkeepers: Lammens, Darlow, Mee.
- Defenders: Maguire, De Ligt, Yoro, Shaw, Dorgu, Mazraoui, Heaven, Martinez, Dalot.
- Midfielders: Fernandes, Tielemans, Mount, Mainoo, Santos, Baleba.
- Attackers: Lacey, Rashford, Mbeumo, Zirkzee, Cunha.
The names are there. The options are there.
What United do with them at Craven Cottage will say plenty about where this season is really heading.
