Sesko and De Ligt return to training as Carrick eyes Hull City opener with double boost

Benjamin Sesko and Matthijs de Ligt returned to training at Carrington on Tuesday, giving Manchester United manager Michael Carrick a significant lift ahead of Saturday’s Premier League opener against Hull City.

Sesko has been sidelined since early May with a shin injury sustained during the win over Liverpool, while De Ligt has not featured since November 2025 following back surgery. Neither player is expected to start against Hull given the length of their respective absences, but their presence on the training pitch opens the door to involvement in the coming weeks.

For Sesko, a possible return date of August 30 against Ipswich has been pencilled in, with United likely to manage his workload carefully rather than rush him back for the opening fixture. De Ligt’s timeline is more cautious still — the Dutchman is not expected to feature in any meaningful capacity until September or October 2026 at the earliest, with the club keen to avoid any setback after such a lengthy layoff.

Matheus Cunha also trained with the group after picking up a knock in the pre-season friendly against AC Milan, providing further encouragement for Carrick’s squad depth heading into the new campaign.

The one concern emerging from Tuesday’s session was the continued absence of Mason Mount. The midfielder has not featured in friendlies against Leeds or AC Milan, and was again absent from training. Fears over a serious injury were eased when he was seen walking unaided after being forced off against Paris Saint-Germain on August 8, but unless he returns to training later this week, he is unlikely to be considered for the Hull fixture. Like Sesko, the Ipswich match on August 30 is being viewed as a realistic return target.

United begin their 2026/27 Premier League campaign against Hull City on Saturday lunchtime.