Man Utd signed Carlos Baleba in the summer transfer window but the midfielder arrived with an ankle injury and is yet to make his debut for the club.
Carlos Baleba has stepped up his return from injury at Carrington
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Carlos Baleba could make his Manchester United debut against Tottenham in October after the £70million midfield man stepped up his return from an ankle ligament injury over the past few days.
United completed a deal to sign the 22-year-old from Brighton in August, but he had picked up the injury early in the Seagulls' pre-season and was always facing a race against time to be fit before the first international break of the campaign.
Baleba continued his rehabilitation with some work on the grass for the first time over the weekend, and he is expected to return to group training this week, but Wednesday's Carabao Cup tie against his former club and Sunday's Premier League trip to Fulham are likely to come too soon.
A three-week international break means United don't return to action until October 10, when Spurs visit Old Trafford, giving Baleba time to be ready for a debut then.
"He'll be back in and around the group at some point over the next week or so, so that means after international, he should be in good shape," said head coach Michael Carrick.
Baleba was the third midfield signing of the summer, following Andrey Santos' £50million arrival from Chelsea and the £35million deal for Youri Tielemans from Aston Villa.
That £155million revamp has given Carrick plenty of options and Baleba's return to fitness will offer a different dynamic in central midfield as well.
"Carlos, he came being injured and then he's desperate to get out there and be part of the group and training fully with the boys," said Carrick.
"I've said before, obviously, he's a quality player, that's why we brought him, and he balances off the dynamics of the midfield particularly well."