Carlos Baleba could make his Manchester United debut within the next three weeks, manager Michael Carrick has revealed.
The Cameroon midfielder completed a £70million transfer from Brighton earlier this week, but arrived carrying an ankle ligament injury suffered during pre-season.
Injury update before Ipswich clash
Baleba sustained the issue during the friendly win over Strasbourg at the start of the month, and it was expected to keep him sidelined for the opening weeks of the new Premier League campaign.
“He’s got a little ankle issue, so maybe a couple of weeks or so, three weeks,” Carrick said on Friday, ahead of Sunday’s visit of newly-promoted Ipswich to Old Trafford.
“We knew that before. It’s no major issue. It’ll be great to have him back.”
Fixture schedule and other team news
United travel to Everton next weekend after facing Ipswich, then host rivals Manchester City in the derby on September 13 before a trip to Fulham seven days later. They return to action after an extended three-week international break at home to Tottenham on October 10.
Asked if Baleba would be available to play before that break, Carrick said: “We’ll wait and see, we’re hopeful.”
Carrick also confirmed that Amad Diallo would remain sidelined against Ipswich, though Mason Mount is in contention to return.
