Manchester United Face Injury Crisis Ahead of Aston Villa Clash
Old Trafford expects a response on Sunday. What Michael Carrick gets, though, will have to come from a patched‑up Manchester United side already creaking just weeks into the season.
United go into the clash with Aston Villa still chasing only their second Premier League win of the campaign, and they must do it without one of the midfielders Carrick had begun to lean on. Carlos Baleba is out, and not just for the weekend.
“Yeah, Carlos, we don't know exactly, but it'll be a number of weeks,” Carrick admitted on Friday. “It's definitely not this week, and it won't be anytime over the international break.”
A blow, and one that forces at least one change to his starting XI at a time when stability is in short supply.
Injury list grows, options shrink
Baleba joins an already crowded treatment room. Luke Shaw, Benjamin Sesko, Manuel Ugarte and Marcus Rashford are all sidelined with what the club regard as short to medium‑term problems, stripping United of experience, pace and presence in every area of the pitch.
At the back, things are no calmer. Lisandro Martinez is suspended for the Villa game, while Harry Maguire is a doubt after limping off in midweek. The spine Carrick would like to build around is being chipped away, piece by piece.
Every selection now comes with a caveat, every plan with a risk. Carrick is juggling rather than rotating.
Dorgu edges back – carefully
There is at least a hint of good news. Patrick Dorgu is edging towards a return after being out since the autumn international break, and he will face a late fitness test to see if he can rejoin the matchday squad on Sunday.
“Patrick has done a little bit of training this week. You've seen him train with us at the start of the week, very, very small. So we've got to be patient with Pátrick,” Carrick said, underlining the cautious tone around the youngster.
“He's had a good period of time now with a couple of hamstrings that we need to manage that and be patient with that over the next few weeks as well. But he's slowly getting back with us, so we'll have to see whether he can be involved at the weekend or not.”
It is the classic managerial tightrope: the temptation to rush a talent back when the squad is stretched, against the knowledge that one misstep could cost months rather than days.
A test of depth and nerve
So United head into a significant home fixture light on numbers, but with little room for excuses. Old Trafford will demand intensity, control and, above all, three points.
Carrick knows the stakes. With injuries biting, suspensions looming and doubts over key figures, this is no longer just about tactics. It is about resilience. How deep does this squad really run, and who steps up when the safety net has been stripped away?
