Carrick Provides Injury Update Ahead of Hull Opener

Michael Carrick will launch Manchester United’s 2026/27 Premier League campaign with one eye on Hull City – and the other on the treatment room.

The United head coach delivered cautiously upbeat news on Benjamin Sesko, Mason Mount and Matthijs de Ligt before Saturday’s lunchtime kick-off, hinting at at least one key return but confirming others will have to wait.

Mount, Sesko and De Ligt have been at different stages of recovery. Sesko and De Ligt carried over problems from last season, while Mount picked up a minor issue during pre-season that United have been carefully handling.

“We are managing Mason a little bit, but he's very close, so it's touch-and-go for the weekend really, if not going into next week,” Carrick said. “There's no drama. It's maybe, it's been a week or so, 10 days or whatever it's been. So it's nothing major.”

Mount missed training earlier this week and, despite only a brief spell on the sidelines, is expected to sit out the opener. De Ligt and Sesko have stepped up their work on the grass at Carrington, but Carrick made it clear the Dutch defender will not be rushed.

“Matthijs has obviously been out for a long period of time, but he's training, and it's great to have him back,” Carrick explained. “Well, he won't be involved, but he's in good shape and moving in a good direction. So that's really a good bonus for us really at this stage.”

Sesko, though, edges closer to a return that could reshape United’s attacking options.

“Ben is back training. So that's again another positive,” Carrick added. “Looking forward to having him back around the group and getting him some minutes as well.”

Summer signing Karl Darlow has also rejoined training after his own injury concern and could claim a place on the bench. Manuel Ugarte and Tom Heaton, however, are set to miss out.

Hull hit by absences of their own

United are not the only side juggling absentees. Hull boss Sergej Jakirovic is expected to be without eight players, including four new signings, for the visit of Carrick’s team.

Jack Butland, Oscar Zambrano, Joe Gelhardt and Hidemasa Morita all carry issues into the start of the campaign. Morita has at least returned to training and could be in line for a debut, but Hull are more likely to ease him in with minutes in the Carabao Cup next week.

Both squads, then, walk into the new season patched up and slightly short-handed. The question now is who adapts quicker when the whistle blows on Saturday.