Man United Injury Concerns Ahead of Hull Opener
Manchester United’s pre-season ended with a defeat to AC Milan and a reminder that Michael Carrick will start the Premier League campaign juggling key absences as much as tactics.
The 2-1 loss on Saturday closed out United’s summer schedule, but the real focus at full-time wasn’t the scoreline. It was the players missing, the ones limping back, and the tight turnaround before Hull City arrive at Old Trafford on August 22.
There was one fresh scare, and it came with a sharp intake of breath.
Cunha scare eases after Milan knock
Matheus Cunha went down against Milan and needed treatment, briefly silencing the United bench. He got back to his feet, played on and was withdrawn just after the hour mark, showing no obvious reaction to the knock.
United do not expect him to join the growing injury list. Barring any late setback, the Brazilian forward should be available for the Hull opener.
Injury: Knock
Likely return: Hull (August 22)
De Ligt’s long road back
Matthijs de Ligt remains the big defensive absentee.
The Dutch centre-back has not played for United since November after back surgery and is still working his way through the final stages of rehab. He has stepped up to training on grass and travelled with the squad to the Republic of Ireland for this week’s camp, a clear sign of progress.
What he doesn’t have yet is a return date. United are still waiting for the green light before pencilling him into any matchday squad.
Injury: Back
Likely return: Unknown
Heaton facing weeks out
Tom Heaton’s pre-season ended with a hamstring problem against PSG in Gothenburg that initially looked minor. It hasn’t stayed that way.
Heaton is due to learn the full extent of the damage next weekend, but the early expectation is that he will miss at least a few weeks. What seemed a routine substitution for Dermot Mee has turned into a more serious setback.
United hope to have him back around early September.
Injury: Hamstring
Likely return: Everton (September 6)
Mount a doubt for Hull
Mason Mount’s early exit against PSG sparked immediate fears of a major issue when he walked off inside 20 minutes. Those fears eased when he later left the stadium without a limp.
The relief has been tempered by his absence since. Mount has missed both friendlies against Leeds and AC Milan, and with no more games before Hull, his sharpness is in question.
A starting place on the opening day now looks unlikely. United still hope he can at least make the squad.
Injury: Foot
Likely return: Hull (August 22)
Sesko still sidelined as Mbeumo steps up
Benjamin Sesko’s shin injury, picked up in the win over Liverpool in early May, continues to drag on.
The plan earlier in the summer was clear: get him minutes in one of the final pre-season friendlies. His absence from the Milan squad showed that target has been missed, and his match fitness is well short.
Bryan Mbeumo is virtually guaranteed to lead the line against Hull. For Sesko, simply making the bench on opening weekend would be an achievement. A more realistic aim is the trip to Ipswich the following week.
Injury: Shin
Likely return: Ipswich (August 30)
Ugarte faces the long haul
Manuel Ugarte’s situation is far more severe than any of United’s other problems.
The midfielder suffered major knee ligament damage while playing for Uruguay in their World Cup defeat to Spain in June and left the pitch on a stretcher. He later called it “the most serious injury a footballer can face” and admitted the blow in such a high-stakes game will stay with him for life.
Ugarte insists he will come back stronger. The timeline underlines the scale of the task: United do not expect him back until 2027.
Injury: Knee ligament
Likely return: 2027
Darlow yet to feature
New signing Karl Darlow is also on the recovery list, though his issue is not thought to be serious.
He has been managing a pre-existing problem since joining the club and did not appear in any of United’s pre-season squads. The club remains calm about his condition, but his competitive debut will have to wait.
Injury: Unknown
Likely return: Unknown
Carrick now heads into Hull week knowing the shape of his squad: Cunha likely fit, Mount racing the clock, Sesko short, De Ligt and Heaton still out, Ugarte gone for the long term.
The friendlies are over. The margins, from here, get a lot smaller.
