Manchester United never fit use summer signing Carlos Baleba since him complete $94 million (£70 million) move from Brighton & Hove Albion, but chance say the Cameroon international go debut within next month don high. Baleba bin already carry ankle injury when him leave England south coast go Manchester, and e miss Brighton entire preseason.
Hope bin be say him go available after first international break, and that timeline look correct based on Michael Carrick fresh update. After some frustrating weeks of recovery and individual work, Baleba dey on cusp of joining full training with new teammates.
Carrick tell reporters say e go back in and around group at some point over next week or so, so after international break, e should dey good shape. But Baleba still out of contention for midweek reunion against Brighton in Carabao Cup at Old Trafford. He also no go play when United travel to Fulham on Sunday, Sept. 20, final match before club calendar pause.
No surprise say Baleba no dey Cameroon squad for upcoming Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Comoros and Republic of the Congo. He go spend that time training and building fitness in Manchester, hoping to make debut as soon as possible. Carrick say him desperate to get out there, be part of group and train fully with boys.
Manchester United first match after international break na against Tottenham Hotspur at Old Trafford on Oct. 10. By then, Baleba go don get around three weeks to train at full intensity, using unusually long international window wey FIFA sanction. This pause na amalgamation of typical September and October breaks, with some national teams playing as many as four times over two-and-a-half weeks.
Carrick fit use Baleba well well, because United schedule no dey rest in October reach November international break. Inside one month, dem play eight times, potentially nine if dem beat Brighton this week and progress for Carabao Cup.
Schedule be say Oct. 10, 2026 Tottenham Hotspur play Manchester United for home in Premier League; Oct. 13, 2026 Atético Madrid host United for Champions League; Oct. 18, 2026 Leeds United host United for Premier League; Oct. 21, 2026 Como host United for Champions League; Oct. 25, 2026 Bournemouth visit United for Premier League; Oct. 28, 2026 potential fixture for Carabao Cup; Oct. 31, 2026 Chelsea host United for Premier League; Nov. 3, 2026 Roma visit United for Champions League; Nov. 7, 2026 Aston Villa visit United for Premier League.
Baleba be seen as final piece of Manchester United midfield rebuild this summer, a more destructive, defensive kind of player following earlier arrivals of utility midfielder Andrey Santos and creative passer Youri Tielemans. The 22-year-old bin be target for club in 2025 but price tag wey would have made him only fourth Premier League midfielder to move for at least £100 million proved prohibitive. A year later, United negotiate much more financially acceptable deal.
Carrick say him obviously quality player, na why dem bring am and e balance dynamics of midfield particularly well. Baleba likely to be starter in United best midfield, especially games against strong opponents where team need defensive protection. It may be say Carrick feel e can sacrifice that presence in other contests against weaker teams where more possession expected, with onus on players to probe and break down stubborn defenses.
More injury updates: United likely again without Amad Diallo and Matthijs de Ligt against Brighton. Neither has played so far this season, with defender back injury keeping him out since November. Carrick add say Amad not quite close in terms of days, but dem go see as week progresses. And Matta just dey work him way back, so because of time frame and how e be, him no really want put too much time frame on it.
United bin without Luke Shaw for last two games with Patrick Dorgu deputising at left-back. Carrick say Shaw injury no be anything serious. He explain say he could possibly be fit for Brighton, but e no clear-cut. But na matter of few days rather than anything else. Pat play fantastically well against Sabah the other night, and Carrick think he did lot of good things against Manchester City. That na why dem get squad, to fill in different things. Injuries no ideal, but dem got to deal with them.
