Manchester United will be without at least five players when they return to club duties for pre-season training on Thursday. Michael Carrick will lead his first pre-season as United boss ahead of the 2026/27 season, with expectation high after a third-placed finish last term secured Champions League football. Carrick's dramatic uptick in form saw him appointed permanent manager on a two-year deal with the option of a further year.
Pre-Season Schedule and Key Absentees
United's first pre-season friendly is against Wrexham on Saturday, July 18, followed by matches against Atletico Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain, AC Milan, and others before their domestic campaign opener away to Hull City on Saturday, August 22. Carrick will be eager to begin his permanent tenure but will do so without several star players due to their World Cup participation.
England stars Marcus Rashford and Kobbie Mainoo are among those absent, with England facing Norway in the World Cup quarter-finals on Saturday. Lisandro Martinez will also miss out after competing in his second consecutive World Cup with Argentina.
World Cup Impact on Squad
Goalkeeper Senne Lammens has been back-up to Thibaut Courtois for Belgium, who advanced to the last eight after defeating the United States 4-1. Noussair Mazraoui has starred for Morocco, who face France on Thursday. It is not yet confirmed whether United players knocked out in earlier rounds will report back to Carrington.
Bruno Fernandes and Diogo Dalot saw their World Cup dreams end as Portugal lost 1-0 to Spain in the round of 16, with Mikel Merino's stoppage-time winner. Altay Bayindir's Turkey and Tyler Fletcher's Scotland failed to progress from the group stage. Amad scored for Ivory Coast in a last-32 tie against Norway but the African side lost 2-1.
Injury and Omission Updates
Matheus Cunha's first World Cup ended in heartbreak as Brazil lost 2-1 to Norway, with Erling Haaland scoring a late brace. Manuel Ugarte suffered an ACL injury against Spain, ruling him out for several months, as Uruguay were eliminated in the group stage.
Carrick is likely to have Luke Shaw, Mason Mount, and Harry Maguire available after they were not called up to the England squad by Thomas Tuchel. Maguire, along with Cole Palmer and Phil Foden, were the biggest omissions. The 33-year-old defender expressed his disappointment on Instagram, saying: "I was confident I could have played a major part this summer for my country after the season I've had. I've been left shocked and gutted by the decision."
Maguire's Renaissance and Future
Maguire enjoyed a renaissance of his United career upon Carrick's appointment in January and signed a new deal in April to keep him in Manchester until next season.
