Michael Carrick after the Champions League 2026-27 match between Manchester United and Sabah at Old Trafford, inset Luke Shaw.
Michael Carrick after the Champions League 2026-27 match between Manchester United and Sabah at Old Trafford, inset Luke Shaw.
Luke Shaw is one of the biggest question marks for Michael Carrick going into Manchester United’s upcoming encounter with Manchester City on Sunday.
The 31-year-old England international has featured in all three of Manchester United’s opening Premier League matches of the 2026-27 season at Old Trafford.
However, Luke Shaw was left out of the squad for United’s Champions League encounter with Azerbaijan-based side Sabah at Old Trafford on Thursday.
Outside of Red Devils left-back Shaw, United In Focus has also compiled a list of first-team players who will likely miss the Manchester City fixture this weekend.
READ MORE: Why Michael Carrick saw promising signs of Man Utd ‘experiment’ that he trialled again for Sabah match
Manchester United's Belgian goalkeeper #01 Senne Lammens, Manchester United's Moroccan defender #03 Noussair Mazraoui, Manchester United's Slovenian striker #30 Benjamin Sesko, Manchester United's French defender #15 Leny Yoro, Manchester United's English midfielder #37 Kobbie Mainoo (front row from L to R) Manchester United's Brazilian striker #10 Matheus Cunha, Manchester United's Cameroonian midfielder #19 Bryan Mbeumo, Manchester United's Belgian midfielder #18 Youri Tielemans, Manchester United's Argentinian defender #06 Lisandro Martinez, Manchester United's Danish defender #13 Patrick Dorgu and Manchester United's Portuguese midfielder #08 Bruno Fernandes poses for a team photo before the UEFA Champions League football match between Manchester United and Sabah FK at Old Trafford in Manchester, north west England, on September 10, 2026.
Photo by Darren Staples / AFP via Getty Images
1. Luke Shaw — DOUBT
Luke Shaw was absent from Manchester United’s 4-0 win over Sabah in the Champions League and Patrick Dorgu was brought in at left-back for him.
“It’s a little bit of that [managing him],” Michael Carrick told TNT Sports ahead of Thursday’s Champions League kick-off.
“He came off the other day [at Everton] with a little bit of cramp. We didn’t want to take any risks really.
“We tried to manage him, so we will see how he is after this one.”
READ MORE: Owen Hargreaves and Michael Carrick both in full agreement around Kobbie Mainoo’s presence in Man Utd squad
2. Manuel Ugarte — MISS
Manuel Ugarte will continue his recovery on the sidelines after the Man Utd midfielder’s injury setback with Uruguay at the World Cup in the summer.
The 25-year-old Uruguayan midfielder suffered a serious knee ligament injury and underwent surgery in the summer amid his long-term absence from the squad.
READ MORE: Gary Neville’s biggest question mark around Kobbie Mainoo at Man Utd now involves Carlos Baleba
Getty Images
3. Matthijs de Ligt — MISS
Matthijs de Ligt has been recovering from a back injury that he suffered in 2025, including undergoing surgery on the same problem during the 2026 summer.
The 27-year-old Netherlands international has returned to United first-team training, but Matthijs de Ligt is still going through his rehabilitation programme.
READ MORE: Michael Carrick’s biggest ‘win’ from Man Utd’s 4-0 Sabah drubbing was not scoreline as he solved critical issue
4. Amad Diallo — MISS
Amad Diallo suffered an injury in training ahead of the 2026-27 Premier League season and the Ivorian winger has been absent for the opening four matches.
The 24-year-old Man Utd and Ivory Coast star is now expected to potentially return in late September or early October from his suspected ankle injury.
READ MORE: Mason Mount’s return vs Sabah has all Man Utd fans connecting dots to what Michael Carrick was ‘trying out’
Michael Carrick, Manager of Manchester United, looks on before the UEFA Champions League 2026/27 League Phase MD1 match between Manchester United and Sabah FC at Old Trafford on September 10, 2026 in Manchester, England.
Photo by Michael Regan – UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images
5. Tom Heaton — MISS
Tom Heaton has not played for the Red Devils since he came off with a hamstring issue in the first half of Man Utd’s 1-1 pre-season draw against Paris Saint-Germain.
Summer signing Karl Darlow is expected to play second fiddle to Senne Lammens for the Manchester City match in the absence of veteran shot-stopper Tom Heaton.
READ MORE: Man Utd fans react to Benjamin Sesko theory after performance vs Sabah, all signs point in one direction
6. Carlos Baleba — MISS
Carlos Baleba has been undergoing rehabilitation for a minor ankle injury at the Carrington training complex in a bid to return to full fitness for the Red Devils.
The 22-year-old Cameroon international picked up his injury in pre-season with Brighton ahead of his blockbuster move to Man Utd in the summer window.