Shaw and Baleba both in contention as United travel to Fulham with fitness doubts

Manchester United assistant manager Michael Carrick confirmed on Friday that both Luke Shaw and Carlos Baleba are in contention for the Premier League visit to Fulham at Craven Cottage, though neither is guaranteed a place in the squad.

Shaw has missed United’s last three matches and sat out training ahead of last week’s Champions League tie against Sabah as part of a scheduled recovery day. Carrick was cautious about the left-back’s availability but suggested a return before the upcoming international break is possible. “It is really short-term, to be honest, but it’s just working towards the game, so we’ll see how he is come the weekend,” he said.

Baleba, who joined from Brighton in a £70m deal over the summer, has yet to make his debut for the club after picking up an ankle injury during pre-season. The 22-year-old returned to full training only this week and could feature from the bench if he comes through without setback.

“There’s a kind of a chance on both of them, really,” Carrick said. “Not totally 100% yet, but there’s half a chance, yeah.”

United’s need for reinforcements at left-back has grown increasingly urgent. Patrick Dorgu has struggled to fill the role in Shaw’s absence, with difficult outings against Sabah and Manchester City, while Noussair Mazraoui fared even worse when deployed there against Brighton. Shaw’s return would offer an immediate solution to one of the squad’s most exposed positions.

Baleba’s potential debut would represent a significant moment for a player United invested heavily in during the summer window. The midfielder brings physicality and energy to a midfield that has at times lacked both qualities this season, and even a place on the bench against Fulham would mark a step forward in his recovery.