Michael Carrick could see a return to his matchday squad as Manchester United welcome Fulham to Old Trafoffrd on Sunday afternoon in the Premier League.
Michael Carrick will be looking to keep the mood high as Manchester United face off against Fulham in the Premier League at Old Trafford on Sunday afternoon.
The former England midfielder’s start as United’s head coach could not have gone any better, with a brilliant 2-0 win over Manchester City being followed up by a stunning 3-2 victory against league leaders Arsenal, which came as a shock to everyone.
Ahead of the weekend’s games, United moved themselves into the table’s top four, just one point above Chelsea in 5th and two above sixth-placed Liverpool.
But, Fulham will be no easy test. Marco Silva’s side have lost just one of their last five games, drawing one and winning three, including a 2-1 victory over Chelsea and a 2-2 draw with Liverpool.
Ahead of the tie, Carrick will be hoping to see an attacking return ahead of the games against Fulham and co in the coming weeks.
Patrick Dorgu
What happened: In the second half against Arsenal, Patrick Chinazaekpere Dorgu pulled up with a hamstring issue and was substituted with ten minutes to play. Reports then suggested he could be out for up to ten weeks.
What’s been said: “Pat, unfortunately, he’s going to be out for a period of time,” Carrick confirmed on Friday afternoon. “We’re still working through how long that’s going to be.”
Possible return date: Late March or early April.
Joshua Zirkzee
What happened: Joshua Zirkzee has not been in either of Carrick’s two squads so far this month after sustaining a minor injury. He has since returned to team training this week.
What’s been said: “Yeah, Josh is back training this week, which is good news,” Carrick said. “Obviously, first time… so he’s been out for a short amount of time, but first kind of training with us since we’ve been here, so that’s great to have Josh back.”
Possible return date: 1 February – Fulham (H).
Matthijs de Ligt
What happened: After starting and playing every minute of United’s first 13 Premier League games, Matthijs de Ligt has been suffering from a back problem since the end of November.
What’s been said: “De Ligt is not training with us,” Carrick said on Friday. The United boss has previously stated he feels the Netherlands international is still a few weeks away from returning.
Possible return date: Late February.
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