Manchester United finished pre-season with a loss to AC Milan on Saturday, but the more important issue was the state of the squad. Matheus Cunha received treatment from the medical team during the game, carried on and was replaced just after the hour mark. The opener away to Hull City on August 22 is now the first real test of how many players are ready.
Cunha's scare and the bigger injury list
The good news is that Cunha did not look like a fresh problem by the end of the game. Manchester Evening News reported: "The knock didn't look anything serious and he was fine to carry on, suggesting his name won't be added to United's injury list ahead of next week's opener against Hull City."
The rest of the update is less comfortable. Mason Mount walked off in less than 20 minutes against PSG and has since missed the friendlies against Leeds and AC Milan. Manchester Evening News also said he is unlikely to be in the starting XI against Hull, although he could still make the squad.
Benjamin Šeško is in a similar place, only with a longer wait. His shin injury dates back to the win over Liverpool in early May, and he was absent from the Milan squad. The best-case target now is the home meeting with Ipswich on August 30.
The players still on the longer road back
Matthijs de Ligt has not featured for Manchester United since November and is back training on grass after back surgery. Tom Heaton picked up a hamstring injury against PSG in Gothenburg and is expected to miss at least a few weeks, with the away trip to Everton on September 6 the projected return point.
Manuel Ugarte also offered a reminder that fitness concerns do not stop at the club level. Speaking to Manchester Evening News about his injury setback with Uruguay, he said: "Hitting rock bottom will make me stronger in every sense, and I truly believe that's the case here."
United can still get through the first week of the league season, but the opening-day picture is not tidy. Cunha looks set to be available, Mount and Sesko remain uncertain, and the club already have de Ligt and Heaton on longer recovery paths before the trip to Hull.
Written by Jack Mercer with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 1 outlet. How we work →
