De Ligt and Baleba return lifts Carrick as Sesko doubt clouds Fulham trip

Matthijs de Ligt and summer signing Carlos Baleba have both travelled with Manchester United’s squad for Sunday’s Premier League clash at Fulham, offering manager Michael Carrick a timely boost ahead of a fixture his side cannot afford to lose. However, striker Benjamin Sesko was absent from the travelling group, adding a fresh injury concern to a week that already ended in a midweek defeat at Brighton.

De Ligt has been sidelined since November’s 2-1 win over Crystal Palace, when a back injury cut short his season. His return to the matchday group represents a significant option for Carrick at the back. Baleba, 22, has been an unused spectator since completing his move from Brighton & Hove Albion after suffering ankle ligament damage during pre-season with the Seagulls. The midfielder could now be in line for his first minutes in a United shirt.

Luke Shaw also makes the trip to Craven Cottage after missing last Sunday’s Manchester derby through injury. The left-back passed fitness tests during the week to force his way back into contention.

Sesko’s absence is the one cloud over the squad news. The Slovenian featured in United’s midweek loss to Brighton but is reported to be a doubt for the Fulham fixture, potentially leaving Carrick without a recognised centre-forward and forcing him to again deploy the striker-less system he has used in recent weeks.

Pressure on Carrick has intensified after just one league win from the opening weeks of the campaign. United failed to make their numerical advantage count in the Manchester derby after Phil Foden’s red card, and Bryan Mbeumo squandered a late chance to equalise against Brighton when Gianluigi Donnarumma produced a fine save.

Carrick, however, moved to dismiss speculation about his position ahead of the Fulham game. “I know the club, I know the role, I know what’s expected here in terms of playing to a certain standard and achieving certain things on the pitch,” he said. “In terms of future and ownership and how long I’ve got in the job, that’s totally not in my thinking.”

“It’s two or three games. It’s two or three games too many because I really hate losing, but that doesn’t mean the world caves in,” he added. “It’s not a catastrophe or a disaster. It’s not the end of the world.”