Manchester United's poor run continued with a loss to Bournemouth, leaving them winless in eight, and they head into next weekend's trip to Chelsea without several key players. Luke Shaw, Marcus Rashford and Kobbie Mainoo are all in the midst of extended absences, though the hosts came through the Bournemouth match with no new knocks.
Rashford, Mainoo and Shaw sidelined
Marcus Rashford was ruled out of United's travelling squad to face Como with a hip problem. "Marcus is still feeling a hip issue that we're trying to overcome," Carrick revealed ahead of the match. He had been an unused substitute the week prior at Leeds, and was not in the matchday squad at all against Bournemouth. It remains unclear when he might grace the pitch once more.
Kobbie Mainoo has now missed Man United's last four games with a miscellaneous muscle problem. Updates on his condition have been few and far between since he missed training before the Atletico Madrid match. Speaking before that loss at Como, though, Carrick confirmed Mainoo would only be out for another "10 days or so". Should that timeline prove accurate, he should be in contention for the trip to Chelsea this weekend.
Luke Shaw's surprise absence has caused a reshuffle at left-back, with Ayden Heaven, Diogo Dalot and Mazraoui all getting the nod to fill in. While not a great deal is known about Shaw's knock, he was again nowhere to be seen as Bournemouth visited Old Trafford and, per Carrick, is expected to be sidelined longer than Mainoo.
Dorgu, Sesko and Ugarte also out
Patrick Dorgu started for Denmark against Wales in the Nations League last month, but hobbled off with 30 minutes on the clock after sustaining a hamstring injury. He immediately returned to Carrington for assessment, and Carrick does not seem confident that he will be back in contention any time soon. Speaking ahead of the 1-1 draw with Tottenham, Carrick said: "It looks like he'll be out for a number of weeks."
Benjamin Sesko has again been sidelined by the shin injury which ended his 2025/26 campaign early and delayed his first appearances of this season. He had seemed to be back at full fitness after featuring against Hull, Ipswich, Everton, Sabah, Manchester City and Brighton, but was left out of the squad entirely for the trip to Fulham and has missed the last three games since the international break. Speaking before the Leeds game, Carrick insisted it was too early to set a timeframe on a return for the striker, and it remains unclear when he might make a comeback.
Manuel Ugarte has not played a single minute for Man United this season after his World Cup earlier in the summer was cut short due to suffering a ligament injury while representing Uruguay. The midfielder was stretchered off during Uruguay's 1-0 defeat by Spain in group phase and he is not expected to return until 2027.
