Michael Carrick Updates on Sesko, Mount, and De Ligt Ahead of Hull Clash

Michael Carrick expects Benjamin Sesko to rejoin his Manchester United squad for Saturday’s Premier League opener at Hull City, but Mason Mount is a doubt and Matthijs de Ligt has been ruled out.

Sesko has not played a single minute of pre-season after a shin problem that he carried through the back end of last year. The injury flared up during United’s win over Liverpool at Old Trafford in May and forced the striker to stay behind at Carrington while the rest of the squad toured and played six warm-up games.

This week, though, brought a change. Sesko has been back in full training and, while he is short of match sharpness, his presence alone gives Carrick another option on the bench.

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

He is not expected to start at the MKM Stadium, but for a manager already juggling fitness concerns, simply having a recognised striker available again matters.

Mount “touch-and-go” for Hull

Mount’s situation is less clear. What was initially described as a knock has lingered long enough that, if he misses out again this weekend, he will have sat out three matches, including two pre-season friendlies.

Carrick insisted there is no long-term concern, yet he admitted United are treading carefully.

“We are managing Mason [Mount] a little bit, but he's very close, so it's touch-and-go for the weekend really, if not going into next week,” he said.

The United manager pushed back on any narrative around Mount’s injury record, stressing his quality and early pre-season form.

“I think, first of all, Mason is a top player. Top player,” Carrick said. “I think we've seen that so far pre-season. He was one of our best players in the early stages in the games that he played in. I thought he was fantastic.

“And he's picked up a little bit of a knock. There's no drama. It's maybe been a week or so, 10 days or whatever it's been. So it's nothing major.”

Carrick made it clear the focus is on keeping Mount in rhythm across the season, not rushing him back for one game.

“He wants to be fit, he wants to be in that full rhythm, and he wants to stay fit. So we're doing our best to help him do that,” he added. “We've got to have a squad that's strong enough to have a really good top starting team with the depth to carry us through the season. Mason will be back very, very soon, if not immediately, so it's all good.”

De Ligt out, Darlow in contention

At the back, United will be without De Ligt, who is still working his way back from back surgery. The defender has rejoined training, but Carrick will not risk him in the opening fixture.

“Matt [De Ligt] has obviously been out for a long period of time, but he's training and 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 to have him back.”

There is better news in goal. New signing Karl Darlow has trained fully this week and is in contention to make the squad.

“Yeah, Karl [Darlow] has trained this week. He's back training, so he's in good shape,” Carrick confirmed.

United return to Hull after nine-year gap

United travel to Hull for the first time since 2017, facing a club riding the high of promotion. The Tigers are back in the Premier League after nine years away, having battled through the play-offs to reclaim their place in the top flight.

Carrick knows the opener will come with an edge: a promoted side, a packed stadium, and a United team trying to set the tone for their campaign.

“As you'd expect, really looking forward to another season, you know,” he said. “They come thick and fast, so it's about making the most of everything that's in front of us really.

“And really encouraged with the work we've done in pre-season on the training ground, mostly in the games I think's been really good. So yeah, very much looking forward to the first game and a tough one on Saturday.”

Sesko edging back, Mount racing the clock, De Ligt waiting his turn: Carrick’s squad is not yet at full power. The question now is whether this patched-together version of United can walk into a fired-up Hull side and start a long season with the authority he believes they’ve built over the summer.