Manchester United will face Sabah in the Champions League on Thursday night and will have several players unavailable for the Old Trafford fixture
Manchester United training before facing Sabah in the Champions League
Manchester United training before facing Sabah in the Champions League(Image: Peter Byrne/PA Wire)
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Manchester United and Sabah could have several players on the sidelines when the two clubs meet in the Champions League this week. The Reds will host the Azerbaijani club at Old Trafford on Thursday night in their first league phase fixture in the competition this term.
Michael Carrick has been forced to manage his squad with several absentees throughout the early weeks of the season, and that is expected to continue when they return to European action on Thursday evening.
United go into the game against Sabah on the back of a 2-2 draw with Everton in the Premier League at the weekend, a game where several players were unavailable for Carrick’s side.
Carrick oversaw training for United on Wednesday afternoon, which offered many hints about the squad that the Reds boss could have at his disposal.
Marcus Rashford was substituted with a potential fitness concern during the draw with Everton at the weekend, but took part in the latest training session. The England international will now be expected to feature for United in the clash against Sabah.
However, there was still no sign of Amad, who is continuing to recover from a muscle injury he suffered in training before the start of the season.
United also did not have Matthijs de Ligt in the session, with the Reds confirming that the centre-back was on a rest day. Carrick provided an update on De Ligt's recovery and why he is optimistic about the defender's return to full fitness.
The United boss told reporters on Wednesday: "We have to see. It's positive. He's trained really well but we're still managing it, when you're out for such a long period of time, you get to the final stages, pushing and pushing, and you've got to manage that last stage.
"It's important to get that balance right to take the next step. But he's on a good track, in a good place and it's great to have him back around us. Hopefully, some time soon."
There was also no Luke Shaw in the session for United, with the club confirming that the left-back also had a rest day alongside De Ligt on Wednesday.
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Carrick said: "Yeah, we just gave him an extra recovery day today, Luke. So, obviously, we'll see tomorrow how he is but it's not an ongoing thing or planning like that.
"Off the back of the game the other day, as normal, each individual has different little things we manage and Luke was one of them today."
It remains to be seen if Shaw will be available to face Sabah, while De Ligt has not played for United since November last year with a back injury and will not be risked.
Carlos Baleba and Manuel Ugarte were also absent from the session for United, with the former still recovering from an ankle injury he picked up during pre-season from his time at Brighton.
Ugarte remains a long-term absentee for United while he recovers from a knee injury he suffered during the World Cup with Uruguay.
For Sabah, the visitors will have at least one absentee, with Khayal Aliyev currently sidelined with a hamstring injury.