Manchester United issue major injury update as NINE players set to miss Como match

According to a report by Manchester Evening News on Tuesday October 20, 2026, Manchester United will be without nine first-team players for their Champions League clash against Como on Wednesday after Michael Carrick confirmed that injuries and illness have affected his squad.

The Red Devils face a difficult trip to Italy with several key players unavailable, leaving Carrick with limited options as he looks to guide his team back to winning ways.

Marcus Rashford and Lisandro Martinez were among those who missed training on Tuesday morning before the squad travelled to Italy. Both players featured in Manchester United’s 1-1 draw against Leeds United at the weekend.

Martinez is dealing with a physical issue and could return for Sunday’s Premier League fixture against Bournemouth, while Rashford is managing a persistent hip problem that the club hopes to resolve through rest and treatment.

Luke Shaw and Kobbie Mainoo are also unavailable as they continue their recovery from injuries. Carrick suggested that Mainoo could return in approximately 10 days, while Shaw is expected to spend longer on the sidelines.

United will also be without Leny Yoro, who is suspended after receiving a red card in last week’s Champions League defeat against Atletico Madrid.

Manuel Ugarte, Patrick Dorgu and Benjamin Sesko remain longer-term absentees, with Ugarte recovering from a knee problem, Dorgu sidelined by a hamstring injury and Sesko continuing to struggle with an ongoing injury issue.

Young defender Ayden Heaven is another player who will miss the Como encounter after falling ill for the second consecutive match.

Speaking about the situation, Carrick admitted that the squad had been affected by a combination of injuries and illness.

“A bit of a mixed bag to be honest,” he said. “We’ve got quite a few missing. Licha’s not too bad, but he’s not with us, so we’ll have to see whether he’s ready for the weekend or not.

“Kobbie, we’re probably looking at another maybe 10 days or so, but not exact. Luke a little bit longer than that. A bit of injury and a bit of illness in the camp floating through us.”

The United manager also provided an update on Rashford, explaining that the forward was still experiencing discomfort in his hip.

“Ayden’s ill and Marcus is still feeling a little bit of a hip issue that we’re trying to overcome, so hopefully that’ll be soon as well,” Carrick added.

Sesko’s situation remains a particular concern, with the striker having been absent since the Carabao Cup defeat against Brighton more than a month ago.

Manchester United are still assessing the best approach to treating the problem and expect to have a clearer understanding of the next steps by the end of the week.

“We’re hoping really soon that we’ll have a clear picture,” Carrick said. “I’m not trying to delay it. Hopefully, next time we speak, maybe not tomorrow, but by the end of the week, we’ll have something a little bit clearer. There’s a bit of work going on at the moment, so we’ll see what comes out of that.”

Despite the growing list of absentees, United have received some encouragement with Matthijs de Ligt returning to contention after approximately 11 months out of competitive action.

The Dutch defender has been training for several weeks and could provide valuable experience at a time when Carrick’s defensive options are limited.

The manager expressed his delight at having De Ligt available again, praising the defender’s patience and dedication throughout his lengthy recovery.

“It’s great to have him back,” Carrick said. “He’s had such a long journey of maybe 11 months or so of being out, being patient, worked hard. We’re delighted to have him back. He’s fit, he’s ready, he’s been training for a number of weeks now, so he’s in a really good place.”

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