Michael Carrick has organised a behind-closed-doors friendly for his Manchester United squad during the international break, while Wayne Rooney has apologised to Benjamin Sesko after questioning the striker's commitment.
United may not return to competitive action until later this month, but Carrick faces a demanding international break as he seeks answers following his team's sluggish opening to the campaign.
Carrick monitors international duty and plans friendly
Carrick will be monitoring closely those on international duty, with Noussair Mazraoui among the most recent to cause concern for his boss. The defender was withdrawn through injury during Morocco's win against Lesotho on Tuesday, adding to the growing list of United players experiencing fitness issues during the international window alongside Bruno Fernandes and Patrick Dorgu.
The United manager will simultaneously concentrate on his duties at Carrington as he attempts to kickstart his team's season. The Red Devils crashed out of the Carabao Cup and collected five points from five league fixtures before the international break.
Carrick will have the chance to test members of his squad who are not in international action during a behind-closed-doors friendly in the forthcoming days. The Telegraph claims that United are scheduled to meet Lausanne-Sport, with the Swiss outfit also owned by Sir Jim Ratcliffe.
It provides the manager with an opportunity to assess his players in competitive conditions and potentially experiment with possible solutions as Carrick seeks to revitalise the team's campaign.
Specifics regarding the venue, date and time of the fixture remain undisclosed, though it will provide United with valuable preparation before their encounter with Tottenham Hotspur on October 10.
Lausanne-Sport have suffered an even more difficult beginning to their domestic season than United. Luka Elsner's outfit sit firmly at the bottom of the Swiss Super League, securing victory in just one of their nine matches thus far.
Rooney apologises to Sesko after injury comments
Wayne Rooney has offered an apology to Benjamin Sesko following comments questioning the striker's willingness to play while carrying an injury. The Slovenian attacker appeared from the bench in each of United's four league fixtures before being absent from the Fulham draw prior to the international break due to a shin complaint.
This initially prompted a response from club legend Rooney, who stated on his Stick to United podcast: "If you're trying to play No.9 [for Man United] and you've got a must-win game and you've got a sore shin and you're not playing... that's a big part of the problem. Unless you physically can't play, you play when you're injured."
Nevertheless, the club's all-time leading scorer has subsequently retracted his remarks. The 40-year-old has apologised to Sesko given the severity of his injury, which led him to pull out of the Slovenia squad.
"Well, if it's long-term, then I suppose I should apologise," Rooney said on Stick to United. "So, I apologise, Sesko. I apologise if I misjudged you. Sorry."
