Mainoo back in training for Chelsea trip after United went winless in his absence
Kobbie Mainoo is training again and could face Chelsea on Saturday after a muscle injury kept him out of four games. His return gives Michael Carrick a midfield option at a time when United have not won in eight matches and Benjamin Šeško faces a long lay-off.
Kobbie Mainoo is back in contention for United’s Premier League game at Chelsea on Saturday. The midfielder had been sidelined for four games with a muscle injury. Michael Carrick has not ruled him out of the matchday squad. The head coach sees his return as a big positive.
Carrick told reporters that Mainoo had done a small amount of training the day before and was back around the group. He called it positive news. For a manager whose job is under pressure, it is a rare lift.
United have not won a game since Mainoo was injured
Mainoo picked up the injury in the 1-1 home draw with Tottenham on 10 October. Spurs had 10 men and still equalised in stoppage time. That was United’s last game with him available.
Without him, United lost 2-0 to Atlético de Madrid in the Champions League on 13 October. They drew 1-1 at Leeds on 18 October. Bryan Mbeumo put the visitors ahead before Dominic Calvert-Lewin equalised in the second half. Como then won 4-1 in the Champions League on 21 October. United failed to beat Bournemouth either. The winless run in all competitions now stands at eight games.
The Bournemouth match also brought a major selection call. Carrick left captain Bruno Fernandes out after Fernandes criticised the team’s tactics following the defeat at Como. With so much going wrong, a fit Mainoo restores a central midfield option Carrick has lacked for weeks.
Mainoo’s return comes as Šeško faces months out
The good news arrived on the same day Šeško’s long absence was confirmed. The striker is expected to miss the rest of the year with a shin problem and may not return before January, Yahoo Sports reported. He has not played since the Carabao Cup tie against Brighton on 16 September.
Šeško is one of several players still missing for Stamford Bridge. Manuel Ugarte, Luke Shaw and Patrick Dorgu also remain unavailable. That leaves Carrick with a thin squad, which makes Mainoo’s return all the more timely.
Mainoo’s record against Chelsea is mixed. He has won two and lost two of his four career games against them. His most recent visit to Stamford Bridge went well: he played every minute of a 1-0 United win there in April 2026.
Chelsea host United at Stamford Bridge on Saturday, with Mainoo now in contention to play.
