MANCHESTER, ENGLAND, 29th October 2023. Marcus Rashford of Manchester United, ManU during the Premier League match at Old Trafford, Manchester
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND, 29th October 2023. Marcus Rashford of Manchester United, ManU during the Premier League match at Old Trafford, Manchester
Both Kobbie Mainoo and Marcus Rashford have withdrawn from England duties for the upcoming Nations League fixtures, piling on more worry for Manchester United manager Michael Carrick.
The duo both started in United’s dismal 1-1 draw with Fulham at the weekend, with Rashford limping off after 77 minutes with his team 1-0 down.
If the two men are suffering injuries which could lead to them missing club games, Michael Carrick has yet another worry on his hands. The only silver lining is that if they are just knocks, the prolonged international break should give them enough time to recover.
Kobbie Mainoo and Marcus Rashford Injuries Add to Carrick’s Worries
Alternatives
Whilst both Mainoo and Rashford are starters for United, only one can be reasonably replaced without issue. The understanding is that Amad Diallo could return after the international break. This could see Carrick reverting back to his front three of last season with Matheus Cunha playing off the left, Bryan Mbeumo up front and Amad off the right.
Shea Lacey could also fill the void left by an injured Marcus Rashford. The young attacker can see himself as very unlucky not to have played a single minute against Fulham, despite being one of the few standouts in United’s cup loss to Brighton last week.
The bigger worry is Kobbie Mainoo. The midfielder has arguably been United’s best player this season and, unlike Marcus Rashford, isn’t as easy to replace. Although United spent £48 million on Andrey Santos, it’s clear Carrick doesn’t favour him. The saving grace is that fellow summer signing, Carlos Baleba, is set to make his debut for United after the international break. The Cameroonian is yet to play for The Red Devils since signing in the summer due to injury.
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Premier League: Fulham v Manchester United, ManU LONDON, UK - 20th Sept 2026: Kobbie Mainoo of Manchester United during the Premier League match between Fulham FC and Manchester United FC at Craven Cottage London Craven Cottage England United Kingdom Copyright: xCraigxMercerx xPeakxActionxPhotosx
IMAGO / Craig Mercer
Mounting Injury List
The injuries to both Kobbie Mainoo and Marcus Rashford add to a long list of players on the sidelines for Carrick.
Matthijs de Ligt hasn’t played a competitive game in 10 months due to a back injury. He appears to be on the mend, however, as he travelled to London for the Fulham game. He didn’t make the matchday squad.
Manuel Ugarte suffered a knee-ligament injury during the World Cup, and although he underwent surgery, he’ll still be out of action for a prolonged period of time.
Benjamin Sesko battled a shin injury over the summer and hasn’t appeared to be match fit since. He missed United’s trip to Fulham this weekend and has, like Marcus Rashford and Mainoo, pulled out of international duty, with the club releasing the following statement: “Benjamin will undergo tests this week before defining his individual recovery plan.”
The Last Word
Marcus Rashford not going on international duty is potentially a good thing. He didn’t appear to be badly injured against Fulham, and his substitution was more than likely tactical, although he did have a knock prior to being subbed.
More time on the training pitch will do Rashford the world of good. He’s had a poor start to the season and hasn’t recorded a goal or assist thus far. He’s also been subbed off in four out of five games. He needs time to work on his game, get to understand the system Carrick wants to play and ultimately hone his craft.
Unfortunately for Rashford, Mainoo, Sesko and the other members of the first team who are currently out injured, the likelihood is that Carrick will
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