Manchester United Injury Woes Ahead of Ipswich Clash

Manchester United will go into their Old Trafford opener already stretched to breaking point, with Michael Carrick missing at least nine players for the visit of Ipswich on Sunday.

The season could hardly have started in more deflating fashion. A flat 2-0 defeat at Hull has left United chasing their first points of the campaign and Carrick under early pressure to spark a response.

New £70m signing made to wait

Since that loss at the MKM Stadium, United have completed the £70million signing of Carlos Baleba from Brighton, a statement move designed to reshape the midfield. The buzz around his arrival has been instant.

His debut will have to wait.

Baleba picked up an ankle issue in pre-season and Carrick has already ruled him out of the Ipswich clash, indicating the club always knew he would need time.

"He's got a little ankle issue, so maybe a couple of weeks or so, three weeks. We knew that before. It's no major issue. It'll be great to have him back," the United boss said.

United fans will have to be patient. Carrick knows he needs him, just not yet.

Amad and Mount: one out, one edging closer

On the flanks, there is more bad news.

Amad, a £37m signing back in 2021 and a player Carrick would dearly like to unleash this season, remains unavailable. The Ivorian missed the defeat at Hull after picking up a minor injury in training and will not be involved against Ipswich either.

"Amad won't be involved, he'll be out for a little bit longer," Carrick confirmed, shutting down any hope of a surprise return.

Mason Mount, though, offers a sliver of light. The midfielder will also sit out the Ipswich game but has stepped up his recovery and rejoined the group at Carrington.

"Mase is back around the group, he trained this week, so a real positive," Carrick said. United will not risk him yet, but the tone around his fitness is far more upbeat.

De Ligt on the comeback trail

At the heart of defence, Matthijs De Ligt remains a long-term absentee, but his situation is finally moving in the right direction.

"Matta's obviously been out for a long period of time. But he's training and it's great to have him back. He won't be involved, but he's in good shape and moving in a good direction, so that's a good bonus for us really, at this stage, to have him back," Carrick said.

The Dutchman’s absence has been a constant headache. Now, at least, there is a timeline of sorts, even if United must cope without him again this weekend.

Heaton out as United juggle numbers

Even in goal, Carrick cannot call on his full complement. Veteran reserve goalkeeper Tom Heaton, who picked up an injury in the pre-season friendly against PSG, is still sidelined. No clear return date has been set.

Heaton would not have started, but his experience on the bench is usually a quiet safety net. United go into the game with less depth than Carrick would like.

Add it all up – Baleba, Amad, Mount, De Ligt, Heaton and others – and United’s squad for their first home game of the season is a patched-up version of what Carrick envisaged when pre-season began.

Ipswich also hit by injuries

Ipswich arrive with problems of their own, though they travel with momentum after a victory over Sunderland.

Jaden Philogene misses out again with an ankle injury, having already sat out the win over the Black Cats. Florentino Luis is also unavailable with a calf issue, another player absent from that Sunderland fixture.

Azor Matusiwa, who missed last week’s game with a thigh complaint, remains sidelined too. In total, Ipswich are without four players for the trip to Old Trafford.

Both managers, then, must improvise.

Carrick needs a reaction from a depleted squad. Ipswich will sense vulnerability in a wounded giant. For United, the question is blunt: can they find their first win of the season without so many of the players signed to change their fortunes?