Michael Carrick Updates on Sesko, Mount, and De Ligt Ahead of Premier League Opener

Michael Carrick expects Benjamin Sesko to rejoin his Manchester United squad for Saturday’s Premier League opener at Hull – but Mason Mount is a doubt and Matthijs de Ligt has been ruled out.

Sesko has not kicked a ball in pre-season after a shin injury that he carried through the back end of last year finally caught up with him. The problem flared during United’s win over Liverpool at Old Trafford in May and forced the striker to stay at Carrington while the squad toured and played six summer friendlies.

He is back now. Back in full training this week, back around the group, and, crucially for Carrick, back as an option.

Carrick will not throw him straight in from the start at the MKM Stadium – the lack of match sharpness is too great – but simply having the Slovenian available again gives the manager a different look in attack.

“Ben [Sesko] is back training. So that's again another positive,” Carrick said. “Looking forward to having him back around the group and getting him some minutes as well.”

Mount touch-and-go, De Ligt out

The news is less clear-cut with Mount. What was initially described as a minor knock has already cost him two pre-season friendlies, and he will miss a third game if he does not make it for Hull.

Carrick called it “touch-and-go” for the weekend and admitted United are managing the midfielder carefully.

“And then we are managing Mason [Mount] a little bit, but he's very close,” he said. “So it's touch-and-go for the weekend really, if not going into next week.”

The manager was quick to push back on any narrative around Mount’s fitness record, stressing his importance and quality.

“I think, first of all, Mason is a top player. Top player,” Carrick said. “He was one of our best players in the early stages in the games that he played in. I thought he was fantastic.

“He's picked up a little bit of a knock. There's no drama. It's maybe been a week or so, 10 days or whatever it's been. So it's nothing major.

“Of course, he's missed some football over recent years and he wants to be fit, he wants to be in that full rhythm, and he wants to stay fit. So we're doing our best to help him do that.”

Carrick underlined that this is part of a broader plan to keep his squad robust over a long season.

“It's the same as the group. We've got to manage the squad. There's going to be injuries through the season. We've got to have a squad that's strong enough to have a really good top starting team with the depth to carry us through the season. Mason will be back very, very soon, if not immediately, so it's all good.”

At the back, De Ligt will not feature. The defender has stepped up his recovery from back surgery and is back on the grass, but United are refusing to rush the final stages.

“Matt [De Ligt] has obviously been out for a long period of time, but he's training and great to have him back,” Carrick said. “Well, he won't be involved, but he's in good shape and moving in a good direction. So that's really a good bonus for us really at this stage to have him back.”

Darlow in contention as new season begins

There was better news in goal. New signing Karl Darlow has trained all week and is in contention for a place in the matchday squad.

“Yeah, Karl [Darlow] has trained this week. He's back training, so he's in good shape,” Carrick confirmed.

United head to Hull for the first time since 2017, with the Tigers back in the top flight after nine years away and a successful play-off campaign that dragged them out of the Championship.

Carrick, preparing for another long Premier League slog, sounded energised rather than daunted.

“As you'd expect, really looking forward to another season, you know,” he said. “They come thick and fast, so it's about making the most of everything that's in front of us really.

“Really encouraged with the work we've done in pre-season on the training ground, mostly in the games I think's been really good. So yeah, very much looking forward to the first game and a tough one on Saturday.”

A promoted side on their own patch, a United team juggling fitness calls on key players, and a manager quietly convinced by his summer’s work. The first answers to what this season will look like arrive in Hull.