Manchester United summer signing Carlos Baleba could make his Red Devils debut during the Premier League clash against Tottenham Hotspur on October 10.
The 22-year-old joined the club from Brighton & Hove Albion for £70 million this summer, but he is still awaiting his maiden appearance.
Baleba arrived at United with an ankle injury sustained in pre-season, and he only made the matchday squad against Fulham.
Manager Michael Carrick did not feel he was ready enough to feature, but the Cameroonian could make his debut against Spurs.
The Athletic claim that United’s staff have been left impressed by Baleba’s work ethic during his recovery progress in recent weeks.
The midfielder could feature for United’s academy against Lausanne-Sport later this week in preparation for his Red Devils debut.
There is an expectation that Baleba could get the chance to push for a starting spot when Spurs visit Old Trafford next month.
Baleba’s return would be a huge boost for United
The Red Devils recruited Andrey Santos and Youri Tielemans alongside Baleba this summer.
With Baleba sidelined, it was anticipated that manager Michael Carrick would pair Santos with Kobbie Mainoo since he is more defensive-minded.
However, Tielemans has been the go-to choice to accompany Mainoo. The Belgian has impressed in phases, but his limited mobility has been exploited.
The 29-year-old is not the fastest when out of possession, and this has meant that United’s midfield has been exposed to more counter-attacks this campaign.
Baleba’s return would be a huge boost for United. He is an out-and-out holding midfielder and would bring extra mobility and a high work rate in the position.
Whether he gets the nod to start against Spurs is a big question mark. It may depend on how he fares in training in the lead-up to the encounter on October 10.
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