Manchester United are on the verge of receiving a huge boost as four senior stars prepare to return to Carrington this week.
According to Manchester Evening News, Bruno Fernandes, Diogo Dalot, Noussair Mazraoui and Matheus Cunha are all expected to rejoin training after enjoying a well-earned break following their respective FIFA World Cup campaigns.
Their return will leave Carrick just a step away from having almost his entire squad available.
Youri Tielemans and Senne Lammens returned to Carrington last week, although the friendly against Atletico Madrid came too soon for the Belgian pair.
They are now expected to be involved for the first time this summer when United take on European champions Paris Saint-Germain in Gothenburg on August 8.
Fernandes, Dalot, Mazraoui and Cunha will now race against time to build sufficient match fitness before that high-profile encounter.
The Red Devils will then round off their preparations against Leeds United and AC Milan on August 12 and August 15 respectively before opening their Premier League campaign against Hull City.
Carrick will undoubtedly be delighted to welcome the experienced players back at such a crucial stage of pre-season.
Matthijs de Ligt will miss the start of the campaign after undergoing back surgery in May.
Manuel Ugarte suffered a horrific injury during the World Cup and may miss the entire 2026-27 season.
Carrick will now want his returning internationals to accumulate as many minutes as possible over the next fortnight.
His priority will be ensuring they are fully prepared both physically and mentally before the competitive season begins.
With both Manchester City and Liverpool entering periods of transition, United have a genuine opportunity to challenge Arsenal for the Premier League title.
If INEOS can complete the right transfer business before the window closes, the Red Devils could enter the new campaign with real momentum and genuine belief.
Stats from Transfermarkt.com