Matthijs de Ligt is closing in on a return after 10 months out with a back injury, Carlos Baleba was in the travelling party for the trip to Fulham, and Benjamin Sesko is back in the middle of another shin problem. It made this a noisy week at Manchester United, with three separate selection stories moving at once.

De Ligt's return watch

De Ligt's own situation is the easiest one to track. He has now spent 10 months out of action, but the signs around him are better than they have been for most of that spell. It was understood that he would travel to Fulham, even if he was not expected to make the squad.

The full-match rhythm is there when he is ready. De Ligt has played 90 minutes in each of his last five league matches, and that is the strongest sign that he is beyond a simple reintroduction. United do not need to protect him with short cameos if they decide he is fit enough to use.

Baleba and Sesko's different problems

Baleba's case is the cleaner one. He was in the travelling party to Fulham, but his first United appearance had to wait. That delay does not come from a lack of match sharpness either, because his most recent five matches include 34, 82, 76, 80 and 90 minutes.

Sesko is the one who looks more awkward. United carried out more tests and scans on his recurring shin injury last week, and he has not played for his country since November 2025. The output has still been there when he has played, with 1 Premier League goal from 4 appearances and 1 goal in 1 Champions League appearance, but the shin issue is now the bigger story.

Omar Berrada's Manchester City past has also been pulled into the conversation after the club's charges, because he held senior roles there during the years covered by the case. Manchester Evening News reported that City were found to have used "sham" contracts to inflate revenues and reduce costs. That backdrop creates noise around United, even if there is no suggestion of wrongdoing by Berrada himself.

United could potentially be awarded titles from 2011/12 and 2017/18 if future consequences follow, but that remains speculative and the club is keeping quiet for now. The immediate issue is still the squad, and whether Carrington produces one more return, one first appearance and one more week of concern before the next game.

FAQ

Will Matthijs de Ligt be back for Manchester United soon?

De Ligt has now spent 10 months out with a back injury, but he is back around the squad picture and was expected to travel to Fulham without making the squad. He is also coming off five straight league matches of 90 minutes, which suggests his match rhythm is already there.

Will Carlos Baleba make his Manchester United debut?

Baleba was in the travelling party for the trip to Fulham, but his first United appearance had to wait. His recent match load is not the issue, because his last five games include 34, 82, 76, 80 and 90 minutes.

How serious is Benjamin Sesko's shin injury for Manchester United?

Sesko has had more tests and scans on a recurring shin problem, and he has not played for his country since November 2025. He has still scored 1 Premier League goal from 4 appearances and 1 goal in 1 Champions League appearance.

Written by Jack Mercer with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 1 outlet. How we work →