Carrick Provides Injury Update Ahead of Hull Opener

Manchester United will launch their 2026/27 Premier League campaign at Hull City with optimism in the air but a squad still short of full strength, as Michael Carrick weighed up a string of tight calls on key players.

The United head coach confirmed that Benjamin Sesko, Mason Mount and Matthijs de Ligt have all stepped up their recoveries, though only one of that trio has a realistic chance of featuring at the MKM Stadium.

Mount, who picked up a minor issue during pre-season, has been carefully handled in recent weeks and missed training earlier this week. Carrick described the situation as finely balanced.

“We are managing Mason a little bit, but he's very close, so it's touch-and-go for the weekend really, if not going into next week. There's no drama,” he said. “It's maybe, it's been a week or so, 10 days or whatever it's been. So it's nothing major.”

The tone is relaxed, but the timing is tight. With Mount sidelined for only a short spell, United are unlikely to gamble on him from the start of a long season.

De Ligt’s situation is clearer. The Dutch defender, out for a long period since last season, is finally back in full training at Carrington and moving well, but Carrick has already ruled him out of the Hull trip.

“Matthijs has obviously been out for a long period of time, but he's training, and it's great to have him back,” Carrick said. “Well, he won't be involved, but he's in good shape and moving in a good direction. So that's really a good bonus for us really at this stage.”

Sesko offers the most immediate boost. The striker, who also suffered an issue last season, has rejoined the group and is pushing for minutes.

“Ben is back training. So that's again another positive. Looking forward to having him back around the group and getting him some minutes as well,” Carrick added.

The pressure on United’s options eases slightly with summer signing Karl Darlow also returning to training after injury. He could take a place on the bench, adding depth behind the first-choice goalkeeper. Manuel Ugarte and Tom Heaton, though, are expected to sit this one out.

Hull, for their part, have problems of their own. Sergej Jakirovic is set to be without eight players, including four new signings, as he prepares to face Carrick’s side. Jack Butland, Oscar Zambrano, Joe Gelhardt and Hidemasa Morita are all carrying issues going into the new campaign.

Morita has at least rejoined training and could yet be involved, but the more likely scenario sees the midfielder earmarked for a first appearance in the Carabao Cup next week rather than thrown straight into the intensity of a Premier League opener.

So United travel with big names edging back but not quite ready, and Hull juggle absentees of their own. For both managers, this first weekend already feels like a test of how well they can navigate a season that has barely even started.