Carrick confirms Shaw rested and Baleba still sidelined ahead of United's Champions League opener against Sabah

Michael Carrick has revealed that Luke Shaw was absent from training on a scheduled rest day ahead of Manchester United’s Champions League group-stage opener against Sabah at Old Trafford on September 10, with the manager cautiously optimistic the left-back could be available for Sunday’s Manchester Derby.

Carrick, now in his first full-time stint as United’s permanent manager after previously serving as interim boss, said of Shaw: “We just gave him an extra recovery day so we’ll see by tomorrow how he is but it’s not an ongoing thing or a plan. As normal each individual has different things that we manage.”

Mason Mount, who has yet to appear for United this season following a knock sustained in a pre-season friendly against Paris Saint-Germain, could feature against Sabah. The former Chelsea midfielder has been training with the first team and was named on the bench during last weekend’s draw at Everton, though he did not come on. His potential return date is listed as the Sabah fixture itself.

Carlos Baleba, United’s £70 million summer signing from Brighton, has still not made his debut for the club. The midfielder arrived carrying a minor ankle injury from pre-season and has been unable to take to the pitch. He is not expected back until mid-to-late September.

Winger Amad has also been absent since suffering a muscular injury in pre-season training, with no confirmed return date available. The Ivory Coast international’s timeline remains unclear.

The most serious concern is Manuel Ugarte, who sustained a ligament tear in his knee while on international duty with Uruguay during the World Cup. Carrick’s side should not expect to see the midfielder at all this season, with his return pencilled in for summer 2027.

United head into the Sabah match having taken four points from their opening three Premier League fixtures, a run that included a damaging 96th-minute equaliser from Ainsley Maitland-Niles that denied them victory at Everton’s Hill Dickinson Stadium.