Michael Carrick provides double Man United injury update ahead of Fulham clash

Carlos Baleba return offers Manchester United a needed boost

Manchester United may finally be about to see Carlos Baleba in action, and that matters. When a club spends £70 million on a midfielder, the expectation is immediate impact. So far, injury has got in the way.

The 22-year-old arrived from Brighton in the summer, carrying both a sizeable fee and a clear brief, add energy, power and control to a midfield that has lacked all three at key moments. An ankle problem picked up in pre-season has delayed that plan, but the situation has shifted quickly.

Earlier in the week, Michael Carrick suggested Baleba was nearing a return to full training, with post-international break minutes seen as the realistic target. Now the United manager has gone further. Baleba is in contention for this weekend, which changes the conversation around a team that badly needs a lift.

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Manchester United need fresh energy

United’s start has been poor. Four points from four Premier League matches is not where they expected to be, and a home defeat to Brighton in the Carabao Cup has added more noise around Carrick’s position. That is what happens at a club of this size. Results dictate the mood.

Baleba’s possible return does not solve everything, but it gives United a different profile in midfield, athletic, aggressive and capable of driving the game forward. At a time when the side has looked short of rhythm, that is useful.

Luke Shaw fitness latest before weekend

There is also some encouragement on Luke Shaw. The left-back has missed the last three matches after last featuring in the 2-2 draw at Everton. Carrick said of Shaw: “It is really short term [with Shaw] but it is just working towards the game.”

That is cautious rather than definitive, but it suggests Shaw is close. United need bodies back, and they need quality back even more.

Michael Carrick remains under pressure

Carrick knows the scrutiny is there, but his message has been straightforward. “We’ve got to put things in perspective: it’s not a catastrophe or a disaster, it’s not the end of the world, we’ve lost a couple of games recently.

“We feel we’ve started and been in all the games we’ve played, if not being the better team at the start of games. We’re not having a real struggle all the time.

“We’ve done a lot of good things, the belief comes from that. The good things we’ve done get lose in the surrounding feeling but they don’t get lost by us.”

Fair enough. The problem for Manchester United is simple, sentiment does not buy time, results do. If Carlos Baleba is fit enough to contribute now, United need him involved.