Manchester United Travel to Fulham Without Benjamin Sesko

Manchester United travel to Fulham without Benjamin Sesko, but Michael Carrick’s squad has not boarded the train to London empty-handed.

The United manager has been handed a timely triple boost, with Carlos Baleba, Luke Shaw and Matthijs de Ligt all included in the group that left Stockport Station on Saturday afternoon for Sunday’s clash at Craven Cottage.

Sesko missing as Carrick leans on flexibility

Sesko’s absence from the travelling party, revealed as the squad headed south, throws his involvement firmly into doubt and strips United of their focal point in attack. It is a blow. The Slovenian has quickly become a key reference in the final third.

Carrick, though, has already shown he is comfortable ripping up the traditional striker template. A fluid, striker-free front line has been one of his go-to options, and he may be forced back towards that blueprint again in west London.

Shaw and Baleba edging back

The mood around the squad is not entirely downbeat. Shaw and Baleba, both recently sidelined, are pushing hard to be involved.

Asked before the trip whether the pair would be ready for the weekend, Carrick kept it simple: “There's kind of a chance with both of them. Don't know totally 100 per cent yet. It's short-term [with Shaw], we're just working toward the game.”

The United boss is clearly encouraged by the broader picture.

“We're looking good. Everyone's up and running. Over the last week or so, pretty much everyone has played and been fit and we're trying to get Carlos back in,” he said. “Well, I say back in, actually introducing him into the group. So he's done a bit of training this week and, hopefully, we'll get Luke back in and around it this week and look forward to a strong game on the weekend.”

Baleba, a summer arrival still waiting to truly step into the rhythm of the squad, has impressed his manager with his attitude as much as his ability.

“Yeah, he's desperate to get started. He's bouncing around the place,” Carrick explained. “It's not always easy, I think, when you come into a new club and you're not right fully in with the group, with the training.

“But he's dealt with that ever so well, I have to say. He's got great personality and he's full of enthusiasm around the place and pushing to get back as quickly as possible. So it's great to have him back.”

De Ligt strengthens defensive core

De Ligt’s presence on the train adds steel to a back line that will be under scrutiny after a bruising week. The Dutch defender is in contention to feature, bolstering a defensive unit that already includes Harry Maguire, Leny Yoro, Lisandro Martinez and Diogo Dalot among the options for Craven Cottage.

Shaw’s potential return gives Carrick the chance to restore balance on the left, while Victor Dorgu and Noussair Mazraoui offer further flexibility in the full-back areas.

United’s travelling squad for Fulham

Confirmed squad members for the trip to Fulham:

• Goalkeepers: Lammens, Darlow, Mee.
• Defenders: Maguire, De Ligt, Yoro, Shaw, Dorgu, Mazraoui, Heaven, Martinez, Dalot.
• Midfielders: Fernandes, Tielemans, Mount, Mainoo, Santos, Baleba.
• Attackers: Lacey, Rashford, Mbeumo, Zirkzee, Cunha.

It is a group stacked with technical quality and tactical options, even without Sesko.

Response demanded after bruising week

United arrive in London under pressure. A defeat in the Manchester derby has already darkened the mood; a Carabao Cup third-round exit to Brighton only tightened the vice.

They are not just chasing three points at Fulham. They are chasing a reaction.

Carrick has his spine strengthening again, key players returning, and a squad that, by his own admission, is “up and running.” Now comes the only question that matters: can this patched-together, slightly reshaped United turn that into a statement performance when the whistle blows at Craven Cottage?