Fifteen Manchester United players face extra work as Carrick's side sit 12th after poor start

Manchester United enter a three-week international break in 12th place in the Premier League, with 15 members of Michael Carrick’s first-team squad staying behind at Carrington rather than joining their national sides. The extended pause comes at an awkward moment for a club that has failed to build on a positive end to last season.

The week before the break was particularly damaging. United lost to 10-man Manchester City at Old Trafford, then surrendered a two-goal lead to exit the Carabao Cup at the first hurdle. A largely flat performance at Fulham’s Craven Cottage was salvaged only by Matheus Cunha’s late deflected strike, earning a point against a side that had yet to win in the Premier League.

Several players have withdrawn from international duty through injury or selection decisions. Karl Darlow, called up by Wales, has pulled out and will be assessed at Carrington. Benjamin Sesko did not travel to London for the Fulham match after a recurrence of the shin problem he first sustained in May, and he too remains in Manchester. Marcus Rashford picked up an issue against Fulham, leaving United without a single representative in the England squad. Kobbie Mainoo, one of United’s better performers on Sunday despite being substituted to boos from the away end, has also withdrawn from international duty.

In goal, Tom Heaton and Dermot Mee will be available at Carrington with Senne Lammens the only goalkeeper away on international duty. Heaton, however, is still recovering from a hamstring injury sustained during pre-season against Paris Saint-Germain.

The break does offer some encouragement in defence. Matthijs de Ligt was spotted travelling with the squad to London — his first involvement since November last year — and while he did not make the bench against Fulham, a return against Tottenham on 10 October is possible. Harry Maguire and Luke Shaw were again left out of the England squad by head coach Thomas Tuchel, who has publicly stated he has not spoken to Maguire since the centre-back’s reaction to being omitted from this summer’s World Cup party.

In midfield, Manuel Ugarte continues his recovery from the cruciate ligament injury he sustained at the World Cup and will work at Carrington alongside Carlos Baleba, who came through the Fulham game as an unused substitute after his own return from an ankle injury. Mason Mount is also back in training following the pre-season injury he picked up against PSG.

Further forward, Carlo Ancelotti’s decision to leave Cunha out of the Brazil squad for friendlies against Australia and India means the forward who rescued United’s point at Craven Cottage will also be on hand during the break.