“So I don’t want to, because of the timeframe on it, and how it’s been, I don’t want to really put too much of a timeframe on it. Luke Shaw could [be available]. He could possibly be fit for Brighton but we’ll see. It’s not clear cut but it’s a matter of a few days rather than anything else,” Michael Carrick, quoted by thehardtackle.com, said before Manchester United's EFL Cup tie.

That sums up the state of United's squad quite well. Benjamin Šeško is expected back in the starting side, but Shaw is only in contention and Carlos Baleba remains out. Even with a few moving pieces, this still looks like a team being rebuilt on the fly rather than one settling into shape.

Sesko back, Shaw still uncertain

Sesko's return is the cleanest part of the selection news. He is set to come back into the XI, and Carrick could do with minutes going into his striker. Sesko has made 4 appearances this season and scored 1 goal, so this is not just about changing the team for one cup night. It is also about getting a central option up to speed.

Shaw is a different case. Carrick left the door open, but only just. The important detail in his update was the hesitation: Shaw could be available against Brighton, yet the manager was clear that it was not settled.

That uncertainty carries into the wider back-line discussion. Noussair Mazraoui, J. Gabriel and Senne Lammens are among the names in a squad that still feels light on settled combinations, and Carrick has not had the luxury of picking from a fully stable group.

Baleba's absence still hangs over the midfield

Baleba was one of the main subjects of Carrick's press conference, which tells you plenty about how he views the player inside this squad. Speaking to thehardtackle.com, Carrick said: “Yeah, he definitely will be [back next month]. He’ll be back in and around the group at some point over the next week or so. So that means, after the internationals, he should be in good shape.”

That timeline rules him out here, and it leaves United without a player Carrick clearly sees as a balancing piece. In a separate quote from the same outlet, he said Baleba is “obviously a quality player” and “balances off the dynamics of the midfield particularly well.” For a team already down the table in 16th, that sort of absence is not a minor one.

Carrick's wider injury update did little to ease the squeeze. “Amad is not quite close, in terms of days, you know. We’ll see as the week progresses but Matta [De Ligt] is just working his way back really,” he said, again quoted by thehardtackle.com. Add Tom Heaton and Manuel Ugarte to that list and the idea of United being close to full strength falls away pretty quickly.

Rotation says almost as much as the injuries

The selection itself points to another improvised night. Bruno Fernandes is on the bench, while Karl Darlow comes in for his debut between the sticks. That is rotation, but it also looks like a manager trying to spread minutes and risk across a squad that still has too many gaps.

There are other fresh starters too, with Mason Mount, Andrey Santos and Shea Lacey brought in, and Manchester United and Brighton have confirmed their teams for the third-round tie at Old Trafford. Sesko coming back gives Carrick a proper focal point, yet the broader read on the night is less about one return and more about how many questions remain around the rest of the side.

The match at Old Trafford on Wednesday will show whether those compromises are manageable against Brighton, because United's team news still reads like a squad short on settled answers.

FAQ

Will Benjamin Sesko start for Manchester United against Brighton?

Michael Carrick's team news points that way, and Benjamin Sesko is expected to return to the Manchester United starting lineup. The recall makes sense because Sesko has only 4 appearances this season and needs rhythm, even if he has managed 1 goal in that stretch.

Is Luke Shaw fit for Manchester United vs Brighton?

Not definitively. Carrick said Luke Shaw could possibly be fit for Brighton, but added that the situation is not clear cut and may still be a matter of a few days. That leaves Shaw in contention rather than fully available.

Why is Carlos Baleba still such a big issue for Manchester United?

Carrick made Baleba a major talking point because he sees him as an important midfield fit. He said Baleba balances the dynamics of the midfield particularly well. Even with some players edging back, Baleba remains unavailable and United's options still look thin before the cup tie.

Why are Manchester United rotating for the EFL Cup tie with Brighton?

The selection points to a side still being patched together. Bruno Fernandes is on the bench, Karl Darlow comes in for his debut, and Carrick is still waiting on players such as Shaw, Baleba, de Ligt and Amad. It looks like rotation, but also like necessity.

Written by Jack Mercer with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 3 outlets. How we work →