Carrick Faces Injury Challenges in First Manchester Derby
Eight months into the job, Michael Carrick walks back into the fixture that changed everything for him.
On Sunday at Old Trafford (4:30pm BST), Manchester United host an unbeaten Manchester City in the first Manchester derby of the Premier League season. It was this game last year that pushed Carrick from caretaker to serious contender, and ultimately to permanent head coach. Now he faces it with a patched‑up squad and a rival that has yet to lose.
United arrive on the back of a thumping 4-0 Champions League win over Sabah, a result that briefly eased the tension, and a 2-2 draw at Everton that left questions hanging over their consistency. City’s build‑up has been steadier: a professional 2-0 victory against FC Porto in Europe and a 1-0 home win over Coventry City at the Etihad.
Different paths, same collision course.
United’s fitness tightrope
Carrick’s biggest concern is the treatment room. Again.
Luke Shaw is the headline doubt. The 31‑year‑old has been leaned on heavily despite a history of injuries, and United have been wary of pushing him too far. Carrick revealed Shaw was given an extra recovery day on Thursday after the recent run of games.
“We just gave him an extra recovery day today,” Carrick said in his press conference. “We’ll see by tomorrow [Friday] how he is, but it’s not an ongoing thing or part of a plan.
“It was simply off the back of the game the other day. Each individual has different little things we manage, and Luke was one of them today.”
Marcus Rashford offers a brighter note. He trained on Wednesday after coming off early against Everton and was fit enough to be an unused substitute in the Sabah win. His presence, even off the bench, could be crucial against a City side that rarely lets opponents breathe.
The bigger long‑term project is Matthijs de Ligt. The defender was again absent, along with Amad, Manuel Ugarte, Tom Heaton and Carlos Baleba. De Ligt has not played since late November and is still being carefully handled after back surgery in May.
Carrick insists the trajectory is encouraging.
“It’s positive. Matta has trained really well,” he said. “When you’re out for such a long period and you get to the final stages, you push and push, and you’ve got to manage that last step. It’s important.
“We’ve got to get that balance right. He’s on a good track, in a good place, and it’s great to have him back around us – hopefully it’ll be sometime soon.”
United need him. But they cannot rush him.
City near full strength
Across town, City’s injury list is far shorter.
Jeremy Doku remains the only absentee for Enzo Maresca. The winger has not featured since the Community Shield, when he felt tightness in his calf during the first half against Arsenal. The problem was not classed as serious, but it has still ruled him out of the first four matches of the season, with Maresca insisting he “needs more days.”
The good news for City is Nico O’Reilly. The midfielder pulled out of the warm‑up before the Coventry match last weekend, raising fears of a lay‑off, but Maresca has now declared him “100% available.”
So City head to Old Trafford with their core intact, rhythm building, and a clean league record to protect.
United, meanwhile, juggle minutes, monitor recovery, and hope their key men hold up when the whistle blows.
Carrick’s journey as United manager began to feel real in this derby once before. Now, against a relentless City and with injuries biting again, how much further can it go?
