Baleba sidelined for weeks as United face Everton with mounting injury concerns

Manchester United head to Merseyside on Sunday to face Everton at Hill Dickinson Stadium with Michael Carrick managing a stretched squad, as summer signing Carlos Baleba remains sidelined and two further first-team regulars are doubts for the fixture.

Baleba, signed from Brighton & Hove Albion in a deal worth up to £70 million, has yet to make his competitive debut after suffering a minor ankle ligament injury during pre-season. Carrick indicated at the end of August that the 22-year-old Cameroonian midfielder is still weeks away from a return. “He’s got a little ankle issue,” the United manager said. “Maybe a couple of weeks or so, maybe three weeks, we’ll see. But we knew that before, so it’s no major issue. It’ll be great to have him back when we can.” His return is currently projected for mid-to-late September.

Luke Shaw is a more encouraging story. The left-back was substituted at the 73-minute mark during United’s 5-2 win over Ipswich Town with muscle tightness, but there are no serious concerns over the injury and he is expected to be available to start on Sunday.

Mason Mount, who has been absent since picking up a foot injury in pre-season, also appears to be edging closer to a return. Carrick confirmed the attacking midfielder has rejoined training this week. “Mase is back around the group, which was great,” he said. “Trained this week, so that’s a big positive for us.” Mount could feature against Everton if he comes through the week without setback.

United arrive at the fixture having made an uneven start to the Premier League season — a 2-0 defeat to Hull City on the opening day was followed by the emphatic victory over Ipswich. Everton, by contrast, are unbeaten, having beaten Crystal Palace 2-0 before drawing 1-1 with Bournemouth last weekend, making Sunday’s clash a stern early test of United’s title credentials.