Carrick sweats on Shaw and Baleba fitness as United face Fulham with nine absentees

Manchester United head to Craven Cottage on Sunday facing up to nine absentees, with interim manager Michael Carrick admitting there is only “a chance” that Luke Shaw and Carlos Baleba will be fit enough to feature against Fulham in the Premier League.

The visit to west London comes at a difficult moment for United, who have lost twice in the past seven days — to Manchester City and then to Brighton, the latter result marking the first time in 50 years the club had surrendered a 2-0 home lead. Carrick is eager to arrest the slide before the international break.

Shaw has been working his way back from what Carrick described as a “short-term” issue, while Baleba has not been available since joining from Brighton in the summer. The midfielder did travel with the squad to London, with Carrick explaining the club is focused on gradually reintegrating him into the group. “He’s done a bit of training this week and, hopefully, we’ll get Luke back in and around it,” Carrick said. “There is a chance on both, really. Not totally 100% yet.”

Amad is ruled out for the Fulham clash and will not return until after the international break, with Carrick confirming last week that his absence was not a matter of days.

Among the longer-term absentees, Matthijs de Ligt has not played in 10 months due to a back injury, though the Dutch centre-back also made the trip to London and could yet be involved in the matchday squad. Manuel Ugarte remains sidelined after undergoing knee ligament surgery sustained during the World Cup, while goalkeeper Tom Heaton is out with a hamstring strain.

Benjamin Sesko is an additional concern after the striker was not spotted arriving with the rest of the squad in London on Saturday afternoon. Sesko has struggled for consistency this season having started the campaign carrying an injury.

Fulham, meanwhile, are without captain Tom Cairney, who had knee surgery in the summer and is expected back in training after the international break, and Dutch defender Kenny Tete, who is sidelined until next month following a concussion. Ryan Sessegnon is in a race against time to be fit after recently returning from injury.