Manchester United face 10-man injury crisis ahead of must-win Tottenham clash

Manchester United face a mounting injury crisis as they prepare to host Tottenham at Old Trafford on Saturday, with manager Michael Carrick navigating fitness concerns over at least 10 members of his squad. United have collected just five points from their opening five Premier League games, making the visit of bottom-placed Spurs a fixture they can ill afford to drop.

Carrick is set to address the media later this week, and team news is expected to dominate the briefing given the scale of the problem.

At left-back, United could be severely stretched. Noussair Mazraoui came off after 69 minutes of Morocco’s win against Lesotho during the international break and was absent from their subsequent friendly against Mali, casting doubt over his availability. Patrick Dorgu, meanwhile, sustained a hamstring injury during Denmark’s Nations League win over Wales and returned to Carrington for assessment. Dorgu missed three months with a hamstring problem earlier in the year, and the simultaneous absence of both players would leave Carrick with limited options on that flank.

In midfield, Manuel Ugarte remains a long-term absentee after suffering a knee ligament injury during the World Cup and is not expected back until later in the season. Kobbie Mainoo withdrew from international duty after being substituted late in the draw with Fulham, though Carrick suggested at the time the decision was tactical rather than injury-related, and there is reported to be limited concern over his fitness.

Bruno Fernandes completed Portugal’s final two Nations League fixtures without issue after inheriting the captaincy from Cristiano Ronaldo, but his fitness is likely to be questioned this week after he picked up a knock against Sabah and had to prove himself fit before recent Premier League games.

In defence, Matthijs de Ligt offers a rare piece of positive news. The centre-back has been sidelined for more than 10 months but featured in a friendly against Lausanne-Sport and is now a regular part of first-team training. He is expected to be available from the bench in the coming weeks.

Third-choice goalkeeper Tom Heaton has not featured since picking up an injury in a friendly against Paris Saint-Germain in Gothenburg, though his absence is considered less pressing with Karl Darlow back fit and Dermot Mee part of the regular matchday squad.

With the table offering little comfort and a winnable fixture on the horizon, Carrick’s pre-match press conference will be closely watched for clarity on just how many of his walking wounded can be called upon at Old Trafford.