Manchester United manager Michael Carrick has delivered a mixed injury update ahead of the club's Premier League opener against Hull City this Saturday. The news includes a return to training for striker Benjamin Sesko but continued absences for several other squad members.
Carrick confirmed the developments during his pre-match press conference on Thursday. United travel to the MKM Stadium to face newly-promoted Hull City in a 12:30pm kickoff, beginning their 2026/27 campaign. The team's final pre-season outing was a 4-2 defeat to AC Milan in Poland last weekend, a match missed by multiple players.
Who is available against Hull City?
Benjamin Sesko has returned to full training at Carrington after a shin injury ended his debut season prematurely in May. The Slovenian forward played through the issue last term before aggravating it during the win over Liverpool at Old Trafford. "Ben is back training, so that's another positive," Carrick said. "Looking forward to having him back around the group and getting him some minutes as well."
Goalkeeper Karl Darlow, a summer signing from Leeds United, has also trained this week following surgery at the end of last season. The 35-year-old had been absent throughout pre-season. "Karl has trained this week. He's back training, so he's in good shape," the manager added. Darlow's return is timely with Tom Heaton facing weeks on the sidelines after an injury against Paris Saint-Germain.
Which players will miss the opening match?
Matthijs de Ligt continues his recovery from back surgery that ruled him out for the final six months of last season. The Dutch defender is training again but won't feature at Hull. "Matt has obviously been out for a long period of time, but he's training and great to have him back," Carrick explained. "He won't be involved, but he's in good shape and moving in a good direction."
Midfielder Mason Mount is a doubt after suffering a foot injury during the 1-1 draw with PSG earlier this month. The England international limped off after 20 minutes in Gothenburg. "We are managing Mason a little bit, but he's very close, so it's touch-and-go for the weekend, really, if not going into next week," Carrick revealed.
The only confirmed long-term absentee is Manuel Ugarte, who underwent knee ligament surgery after getting injured while playing for Uruguay at this summer's World Cup. The club confirmed his operation was successful and he has begun rehabilitation. United's current squad depth can be tracked on our squad page.
How does this affect United's early season plans?
With several key players either unavailable or returning from injury, Carrick faces selection challenges for the opening fixtures. The absence of De Ligt in central defense and uncertainty around Mount's midfield role could influence early team selections. United's medical staff will be carefully managing workloads as players return to competitive action.
The return of Sesko provides a significant boost to United's attacking options. The 23-year-old scored 14 goals in all competitions last season despite his injury troubles. His availability adds firepower alongside other forwards as United look to start the campaign strongly. Fans can follow the team's progress on our standings page throughout the season.
United's opening month includes matches against Hull City, Aston Villa, and Brighton before the first international break in September. The club will hope to have more players available for these early tests as they aim to improve on last season's fifth-place finish. The full schedule of upcoming matches is available on our fixtures page.
Tom Heaton's injury, sustained against PSG two weeks ago, has proven more serious than initially thought. The 40-year-old goalkeeper will be out for at least a few weeks, making Darlow's return particularly important for squad depth. United begin their Premier League season at Hull City's MKM Stadium on Saturday, September 5th, 2026.
