Rashford, Mainoo and Shaw among nine United absentees for Como trip

Manchester United travel to Como on Wednesday evening carrying a nine-man injury list, leaving manager Michael Carrick with severely limited options as his side attempt to end a six-match winless run in the Champions League.

Marcus Rashford is nursing a hip problem that kept him out of the travelling squad despite coming off the bench in United’s recent draw with Leeds. “Marcus is still feeling a hip issue we’re trying to overcome,” Carrick said, with no firm return date yet set.

Kobbie Mainoo, who has established himself as a key figure in Carrick’s midfield, is expected to be sidelined for another 10 days with a muscle issue, making him a doubt until around 30 October. Luke Shaw faces a longer wait, with the England left-back not expected to return until early November at the earliest after Carrick offered little detail on the full-back’s recovery timeline.

Lisandro Martinez will also miss the Como fixture despite playing 45 minutes against Leeds last weekend. Carrick moved to play down concerns over the Argentina international, saying: “Licha is not too bad but he’s not with us. We’ll have to see if he’s ready for the weekend.”

Benjamin Sesko’s absence is set to continue, with Carrick indicating a clearer picture on the striker’s fitness should emerge by the end of the week. Patrick Dorgu remains out until late November with the thigh injury he sustained during Denmark’s Nations League match against Wales, while Ayden Heaven misses out through illness and is expected back around 25 October.

Despite the mounting absentees, Carrick spoke warmly about the challenge posed by Cesc Fabregas’ Como side. “I have huge respect for what Cesc has done — how quickly they have risen to the heights and doing so well in the league last season,” the United manager said. “As a coach, with the way the team is playing, it is quite clear he has some good ideas. He has created a really, really good team.”

United’s need for a result is pressing. Six games without a win has placed Carrick under significant pressure, and navigating a trip to Italy with a depleted squad will test the depth of his options considerably.