Manchester United are preparing for the return of Marcus Rashford to pre-season training over the next couple of days, with the forward having already held discussions with head coach Michael Carrick this summer. Notebook understands that Carrick has exchanged messages with his former teammate, whom he coached during his first spell as assistant to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, and the pair retain a good relationship.
Carrick's role in Rashford's reintegration
Carrick's presence is one reason why Rashford's reintegration into the United squad is now considered the most likely course of action this summer. Not only does he have a longstanding relationship with the academy graduate, but his unflappable demeanour could help iron out any potential issues.
Carrick will certainly approach things differently than Ruben Amorim, and it hasn't gone unnoticed by people close to Rashford that his first game in pre-season could be against Amorim's AC Milan side in Wroclaw. Whether the 28-year-old is deemed fit enough to play a part in that friendly will depend on how the next few days go, and Rashford's fitness will be assessed on his return to the club. He came off at half-time of England's bronze medal match against France in the World Cup amid suggestions of a minor injury, although it isn't thought to be anything serious.
Interest in Rashford's return
There will be plenty of interest in Rashford's return to the fold at United over the next week or so. When United mooted plans for a training camp back in Ireland next week, there were initial suggestions of a partially open training session on one of the days, but this has since been scrapped.
The game against Leeds on Wednesday is likely to come too early for Rashford, as well as Lisandro Martinez and Kobbie Mainoo, but he could yet feature in the Premier League, and both parties now believe it is more likely than not that he stays at the club. However, the situation remains changeable, and it seems likely there will be some interest in him over the final weeks of the window, particularly in the closing days if he hasn't forced his way into Carrick's plans. Tottenham are admirers and Arsenal's failed pursuit of Vinicius Jr means they are back in the market for a left-winger. A move to Turkey or Saudi Arabia doesn't appeal to Rashford.
For now, Rashford's focus is on United and his return to pre-season training over the next couple of days will be a major source of interest, including what squad number he ends up with after his No.10 was handed to Matheus Cunha a year ago. That was a clear sign that nobody expected to be in this position back then.
Sesko's return date
More than four weeks into pre-season, there has been no sign of Benjamin Sesko, who missed the end of last season with a shin injury and still isn't considered ready to play more than three months on. That has led to some concern about Sesko's status, particularly amid United's decision not to look at signing another forward as things stand, but there is an expectation that the £73million forward will be fit for the opening day of the season at Hull City on August 22.
Sesko is due to be part of the United squad for their training camp in Ireland next week, and there is hope he will be able to play some minutes against AC Milan in Wroclaw on August 15, putting himself in the frame for at least a place on the bench at Hull.
Darlow hope
Karl Darlow is another player yet to be glimpsed in pre-season training. The 35-year-old goalkeeper joined the club three weeks ago but is still recovering from a minor procedure he had at the end of last season. Darlow's fitness is now a more pressing matter with Altay Bayindir having left the club on loan and Radek Vitek set to join Middlesbrough. That leaves Tom Heaton and Dermot Mee as the only back-up goalkeepers to Senne Lammens. United are hoping Darlow will be able to take part in most of next week's training camp and are confident he will be fit for the start of the season.
Gothenburg boost
It has become a recurring theme of pre-season to monitor the empty seats at United games. While the schedule might have been beneficial to the players, it has perhaps been overkill in this part of the world. Crowds in Trondheim and Stockholm were down around 50% on the last time United played there in 2024 and 2025 respectively, while only 20,000 were in the 36,000 capacity Olympic Stadium in Helsinki for United's first game in Finland since 1981.
But the Ullevi Stadium is much closer to a sell-out for United's game against Paris Saint-Germain. It is a decade since United played in Gothenburg, it is a glamour feature, and far enough removed from the World Cup to feature more big names. There should be more of a buzz around pre-season now. The game with Leeds at Croke Park in Dublin on Wednesday is already sold out and tickets have sold well for the finale against AC Milan in Wroclaw next weekend.
Carrington dispatch
The rhythm of United's pre-season will change this weekend, when instead of returning to Carrington directly after a game, they fly to Dublin and begin a training camp in Ireland. United were so enamoured with the facilities in April that they have decided to return to County Kildare, but the focus will again be primarily on the football, and there is said to be little in the schedule from a commercial viewpoint.
It's been a very different summer for United to date, with four successive weeks at Carrington, only interrupted by trips lasting barely a day to Helsinki, Trondheim and Stockholm. That has put football at the top of the agenda and insiders have remarked on the calm it has brought to United's summer and how the focus has been narrowed down to training and getting ready for the season. That can be difficult to do when touring the United States or Asia, where there are frequent changes of location and commercial obligations to meet. It will be interesting to see whether the approach benefits United at the start of the season, but they have certainly had a longer and more stable pre-season than all of their big six rivals.
Quote of the week
"He's a really good player. Still really young, still a lot to learn, a lot to improve, but he's really humble, still working, so I'm happy for him to get his first minutes. I hope for him it's going to continue like that."
Leny Yoro made his competitive Lille debut at 16 and was the subject of a bidding war between United and Real Madrid at 18, so he knows a thing or two about being a teenage sensation. He likes what he sees in JJ Gabriel, who was the story in Stockholm despite only playing 10 minutes.
What to look out for next week
We haven't heard from Carrick yet in pre-season, but that is due to change in Ireland next week when he sits down with the travelling press pack, and there will be plenty to discuss. The sit-down with the manager or head coach is always a big part of pre-season and this is the first chance to speak to Carrick outside of a press conference and in a more relaxed environment. There will be plenty of topics on the table, including what he has made of the club's transfer business, Rashford's return and his expectations for this season. It will be fascinating to see how he handles himself now he has the job on a permanent basis.
