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Carlos Baleba, Luke Shaw, Amad - Man United injury latest after Brighton defeat

Manchester United continue to be without half a dozen players through injury after their Carabao Cup exit to Brighton & Hove Albion at Old Trafford on Wednesday

Carlos Baleba arriving at Old Trafford before a Manchester United match

Carlos Baleba was in attendance at Old Trafford for Manchester United's Carabao Cup tie against his former club Brighton & Hove Albion

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Luke Shaw is the only one of the six Manchester United players currently sidelined through injury who could be fit to feature in their final match before the international break against Fulham.

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Half a dozen players were unavailable for the Carabao Cup defeat to Brighton & Hove Albion at Old Trafford on Wednesday night. Lisandro Martinez and Patrick Dorgu are two other players who also did not make the matchday squad this midweek.

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Amad, Carlos Baleba, Manuel Ugarte, Matthijs de Ligt and Tom Heaton, meanwhile, have yet to be involved at all this season. Shaw makes it six sidelined.

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Amad

A niggle sustained during the final days of pre-season training continues to sideline Amad. The Ivory Coast international featured in United's final four friendlies this summer, but has now missed their first six competitive matches.

Michael Carrick spoke about him during Tuesday's pre-match press conference. He said: "Amad, not quite close in terms of days, but we'll see as the week progresses."

After not playing against Brighton, it remains to be seen whether the winger will be fit five days on from those comments when Fulham host United on Sunday. If not, Amad will likely return after the international break.

Carlos Baleba

Summer signing Baleba has not played yet this season after sustaining an ankle ligament injury during pre-season. However, the midfielder is closing in on a return after recently stepping up his rehabilitation.

Carrick spoke about him before the cup tie against Baleba's former employers. United's head coach said: "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. Carlos came being injured, and then he's desperate to get out there and be part of the group and training fully with the boys."

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Luke Shaw

After starting the first three Premier League matches of this season, Shaw has now been sidelined for the last week due to a thigh injury. He was in attendance at Old Trafford on Wednesday night after Carrick claimed he could be fit to return in that cup tie.

United's head coach said: "He could possibly be fit for Brighton, it's not clear-cut. But it's a matter of a few days rather than anything else."

That timeline suggests that Shaw should be back to feature against Fulham. That would presumably leave Dorgu out of the starting line-up again after his rest.

Matthijs de Ligt

It is now 10-and-a-half months since De Ligt last played for United in late November because of a back injury. The defender returned to training with his team-mates around five-and-a-half weeks ago after having surgery.

Carrick, however, is cautious about giving an exact date for De Ligt's return. He said on Tuesday: "Matta's just working his way back, really, so because of the time frame and how it's been, I don't really want to put too much time frame on it."

It will, though, be sometime after the upcoming international break. There is then a month until the next one.

Manuel Ugarte

Uruguay international Ugarte remains United's one long-term absentee after sustaining a knee ligament injury at this summer's World Cup. The midfielder continues to rehabilitate at Carrington after having surgery and is now working with the club's medical and performance staff.

United's most recent update says that "while the operation was a success", he "faced a long path to a full recovery" and is "currently progressing". However, he will almost certainly not pay again before the end of 2026.

After having surgery in mid-July, he could yet return before the end of this season. However, it all depends on his rehabilitation.

Tom Heaton

A hamstring injury sustained that forced Heaton off during United's pre-season friendly against Paris Saint-Germain continues to sideline the veteran goalkeeper. He would presumably have been named among the substitutes against Brighton if fit.

Senne Lammens was instead on the bench as Karl Darlow made his debut. Dermot Mee was also included in the Champions League matchday squad against Sabah last week, with Heaton absent.

The former England international is, however, in their squad for that competition. He is also on their list of players submitted for the Premier League, and they are the closest things to updates on Heaton.

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