Manchester United will be without at least five players for tonight's Champions League clash against Sabah, with the possibility of two further absentees. Michael Carrick is preparing for his first European match as United's permanent manager, five years after he steered the Red Devils into the round of 16 by defeating Villarreal on Spanish soil.
Long-term absentees confirmed
Manuel Ugarte will not return to action until next spring at the earliest, following the devastating knee injury he sustained during the World Cup. Matthijs de Ligt will also remain sidelined, though Carrick offered an update on the Dutchman's rehabilitation.
Carrick said: "We're still managing him, he's trained well and he's pushing and pushing, but we've got to manage that last stage. He's in a good place and it's great to have him back. Hopefully he will return soon."
Further doubts over key players
Tom Heaton and Amad are both expected to remain unavailable owing to their respective muscular complaints, with the timeline for their returns still deeply uncertain. Carlos Baleba remains sidelined with the ankle problem he sustained during pre-season, prior to his £70m transfer from Brighton and Hove Albion.
Uncertainty surrounds Luke Shaw's availability. He was absent from training earlier this week, though this was attributed to an additional rest day. Carrick indicated that it would be a late decision regarding his involvement, particularly with the Manchester derby looming this weekend.
Shaw and Mount decisions pending
Addressing Shaw's absence, the United manager explained: "We just gave him an extra recovery day so we'll see by tomorrow how he is but it's not an ongoing thing or a plan. As normal each individual has different things that we manage."
Another United player plagued by fitness concerns is Mason Mount. He was named amongst the substitutes for the 2-2 away stalemate against Everton but remained on the bench throughout. Whether he'll get the chance to feature against Sabah is yet to be determined. It can likely be assumed that, barring any setbacks between now and kick-off, he will at minimum be included in the matchday squad.
