Three reported absences leave Carrick short for Leeds
The Peoples Person reports that Benjamin Sesko, Patrick Dorgu and Noussair Mazraoui did not travel with Manchester United for the Leeds fixture, leaving Michael Carrick without options in attack and at full-back.
The report is based on information from club insider Sully, rather than an official squad announcement. Sesko remains out of action, while Dorgu and Mazraoui are unavailable for the trip to Elland Road.
The three absences add to the fitness questions Carrick must manage as United prepare for a difficult away match against Daniel Farke’s Leeds. A Manchester United injury update had already covered Sesko’s unavailability and other players facing checks.
Sesko remains short of a return
Sesko has been sidelined since sustaining a shin injury against Brighton & Hove Albion in the League Cup in September. Carrick said before the Leeds fixture that the striker was still undergoing checks, with the club not ready to give a clear return timeline.
The United manager’s update made clear that Sesko was not as close to a return as some of the other players being assessed. The striker’s absence removes an attacking option for Carrick, although the report does not establish who will replace him in the starting side.
Dorgu and Mazraoui both picked up injury knocks while representing Denmark and Morocco, respectively. The report says neither full-back travelled with the squad; Dorgu is expected to remain out for a little longer, while Mazraoui trained during the week and is close to returning.
| Player | Reported status | Relevant update | Match |
|---|---|---|---|
| Benjamin Sesko | Did not travel | Still undergoing checks | Leeds |
| Patrick Dorgu | Did not travel | Expected out for longer | Leeds |
| Noussair Mazraoui | Did not travel | Trained; close to return | Leeds |
United’s defensive options are stretched
United were also without Kobbie Mainoo, Luke Shaw and Sesko for the midweek match against Atletico Madrid. Carrick said he would assess Shaw and Mainoo ahead of Leeds, leaving their availability as a separate consideration from the three reported absentees.
The Peoples Person notes that Carrick has recently used Leny Yoro and Ayden Heaven in wide defensive positions to cover for the shortage of full-backs. With Dorgu and Mazraoui both reported absent, those kinds of adjustments remain possible, but the report does not confirm a particular lineup.
Carrick described Sesko’s situation as unresolved when discussing his checks and the lack of a firm timeline:
“Ben’s kind of still going undergoing a couple of kind of checks that we’re really trying to- before we kind of update on timelines of everything, we’re just trying to be clear with what that looks like, so he’s still a little bit further away.”
The Leeds match is scheduled for Sunday, October 18, at Elland Road. United’s final team selection will show how Carrick balances the reported absences with the fitness checks on Shaw and Mainoo.
