Manchester United's Squad Challenges Ahead of Fulham Clash
Manchester United travel to Fulham without Benjamin Sesko, but Michael Carrick’s squad is not short of storylines – or reinforcements.
The Slovenian striker was a notable absentee as United boarded the train at Stockport on Saturday afternoon, his name missing from the travelling group heading to London. His omission throws a major question mark over his involvement at Craven Cottage, stripping United of a focal point just when they are desperate to steady themselves.
Carrick, though, has learned to live without a traditional No 9. He has already shown he is comfortable rolling out a striker-less front line, leaning on movement and interchange rather than a fixed target man. If Sesko does miss out, it would be a blow, not a collapse.
Triple boost for Carrick
While Sesko stayed behind, three important names did make the journey south: Carlos Baleba, Luke Shaw and Matthijs de Ligt. All three are in contention to feature, handing Carrick a badly needed lift after a bruising week.
Asked about Shaw and Baleba’s chances of being ready for the weekend, the United manager kept the door open.
"There's kind of a chance with both of them. Don't know totally 100 per cent yet. It's short-term [with Shaw], we're just working toward the game," he said.
The timing matters. United arrive at Fulham under pressure, still stinging from defeat in the Manchester derby and a Carabao Cup third-round exit to Brighton. The margin for error has shrunk quickly. Craven Cottage is no place for another misstep.
Carrick insisted the overall picture is improving.
"We're looking good. Everyone's up and running. Over the last week or so, pretty much everyone has played and [been] fit and we're trying to get Carlos back in.
"Well, I say back in, actually introducing him into the group. So he's done a bit of training this week and, hopefully, we'll get Luke [Shaw] back in and around it this week and look forward to a strong game on the weekend."
Baleba’s impatience to get started has not gone unnoticed.
"Yeah, he's desperate to get started. He's bouncing around the place. It's not always easy, I think, when you come into a new club and you're not right fully in with the group, with the training.
"But he's dealt with that ever so well, I have to say. He's got great personality and he's full of enthusiasm around [the place] and pushing to get back as quickly as possible. So it's great to have him back."
Squad taking shape
For all the uncertainty around Sesko, United’s squad for Fulham still looks strong on paper.
Confirmed travelling players:
- Goalkeepers: Lammens, Darlow, Mee.
- Defenders: Maguire, De Ligt, Yoro, Shaw, Dorgu, Mazraoui, Heaven, Martinez, Dalot.
- Midfielders: Fernandes, Tielemans, Mount, Mainoo, Santos, Baleba.
- Attackers: Lacey, Rashford, Mbeumo, Zirkzee, Cunha.
It is a group with options, experience and enough quality to control a game – if United can finally knit it together after a stuttering spell.
They arrive in west London needing more than a performance. They need points. The derby defeat hurt. The cup exit to Brighton underlined how fragile their momentum remains.
Sesko’s absence poses one tactical question. The response at Craven Cottage may answer a far bigger one: what kind of United side is Carrick really building when the pressure bites?
