Michael Carrick will be relieved after one of Manchester United’s best-performing players returned to training after an injury scare last weekend.
Michael Carrick’s side have been handed just under a fortnight to reset after his opening five matches in charge of the first team, stepping in after Rúben Amorim’s dismissal last month.
Manchester United have collected an impressive 13 points from a possible 15 in that spell, claiming statement victories over Manchester City, Arsenal, Fulham and Tottenham before being held to a 1-1 draw by West Ham on Tuesday night.
The stalemate in East London has slightly dampened the feel-good factor, but United remain unbeaten in five, firmly in the top four and in a strong position in the race for Champions League qualification.
Once the break concludes, Carrick will take his team to Merseyside to face Everton, who have won two of their last five matches and currently sit eighth in the Premier League. Here is the latest injury update from United’s camp.
Harry Maguire
What happened: Harry Maguire was spotted holding his hamstring following a challenge with Crysencio Summerville in the first half of the tie against West Ham. He was then withdrawn in the 68th minute.
What’s been said: However, it has been relayed by United’s social media pages that the defender was back in training with the team late last week, suggesting that his problem was not a serious one.
Expected return date: Monday, 23 February – Everton (H).
Mason Mount
What happened: Mason Mount did not feature against Fulham, Tottenham, or West Ham following a knock in training, having last featured during the win over Man City last month.
What’s been said: Speaking ahead of the West Ham draw, Carrick said: “Mason will be probably not for Tuesday, but definitely going into the Everton game he’ll be back.”
Expected return date: Monday, 23 February – Everton (H).
Matthijs de Ligt
What happened: Matthijs de Ligt has missed every one of United’s fixtures since the end of November with a back injury, having started the first 13 Premier League games of United’s season.
What’s been said: “We’ll see how he develops,” Carrick said earlier this month. “The Everton game feels like a long time away at the moment, so we’ll see how he develops, but he’s positive, he’s moving in the right direction.”
Expected return date: Early March.
Read More: Matheus Cunha explains why he “loves being around” Man Utd star he feels is “very intelligent”
Patrick Chinazaekpere Dorgu
What happened: Amid a fantastic run of form, Patrick Chinazaekpere Dorgu sustained a hamstring injury against Arsenal, with initial reports suggesting that he could miss ten weeks of action.
What’s been said: “It could possibly [be up to ten weeks], we’re working through it,” Carrick recently commented. “Certainly looking forward to getting him back as quick as we can and getting [him] on the pitch long before the end of the season.”
Expected return date: Late March or early April.
Make sure to follow UtdDistrict on X, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and TikTok to never miss out on any of our Manchester United content. Our podcast, What the Devil?, is streamed live every Thursday at 14:00 pm (GMT) on the United View YouTube channel.