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Michael Carrick has confirmed that Carlos Baleba will miss Manchester United’s Carabao Cup tie against Brighton on Wednesday, but expects the summer signing to be back around the group within the next week or so.
Baleba joined United over the summer for an initial £65million and has yet to make his debut after arriving with an ankle injury. Speaking before the Brighton match, Carrick said the Cameroon international would not be available against his former club. He indicated that Baleba should be back around the group over the coming days and in good shape after the international break.
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The update offers a clearer indication of Baleba’s progress without setting a specific date for his first appearance. Carrick said the midfielder arrived injured and is eager to join his new team-mates in training. The head coach also described Baleba as a quality player who can help balance the dynamics of United’s midfield.
United are also likely to be without Amad Diallo and Matthijs de Ligt for the Carabao Cup fixture. Both players, like Baleba, have yet to feature this season. Carrick said Amad was not close in terms of days and that his situation would be monitored as the week progresses. On De Ligt, Carrick said the defender was working his way back and declined to put a timescale on his return.
Luke Shaw’s position
Luke Shaw could be fit to face Brighton, although Carrick stressed that the situation was not clear-cut. The United head coach described Shaw’s absence as a matter of a few days rather than a longer-term issue. Shaw has missed United’s last two matches, with Patrick Dorgu covering at left-back.
Carrick praised Dorgu’s recent contributions, saying the defender had done a lot of good things in his appearances. He added that the squad must deal with injuries and use its depth to cover different roles when players are unavailable.
| Player | Issue | Status vs Brighton | Return outlook |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carlos Baleba | Ankle injury | Unavailable | Expected back around the group within the next week or so |
| Amad Diallo | Unspecified | Likely unavailable | Not close in terms of days |
| Matthijs de Ligt | Unspecified | Likely unavailable | Working his way back; no timescale given |
| Luke Shaw | Unspecified | Possible | A matter of a few days, according to Carrick |
A trophy on Carrick’s mind
Carrick also underlined the importance of the competition. He said winning trophies and giving supporters the emotion that comes with achievement are important, while acknowledging that success is not straightforward simply because a team wants it.
For United, the immediate focus is Brighton. Baleba will not be involved, while the availability of Amad, De Ligt and Shaw remains part of the wider team-news picture ahead of the tie.