Man United Crisis: 11 Players Injured as Carrick Eyes Tottenham Test
A Troubled International Break
Manchester United are enduring one of the most painful international breaks in recent memory, with injury problems piling up across the squad. The Red Devils headed into the September-October break already without Amad Diallo, Matthijs de Ligt, Manuel Ugarte and Tom Heaton, and things have only got worse since then.
Injuries Mounting Up
Captain Bruno Fernandes missed Portugal's Nations League fixture against Norway after Portugal boss Jorge Jesus confirmed that the midfielder had actually been playing through pain for several weeks in a United shirt. Jesus made clear he did not want to risk Fernandes further. On the wing, Patrick Dorgu was forced off during Denmark's clash with Wales with what appeared to be a hamstring problem and was sent home from international duty entirely. To make matters worse, right-back Noussair Mazraoui became the latest casualty when he was forced off during Morocco's Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Lesotho on Tuesday. All told, United's injury list now stands at a staggering 11 players β a worrying number for a club already struggling for form.
League Position & Recent Form
The Red Devils are sitting in 12th place in the Premier League with five points from five matches. Their last outing before the break was a 1-1 draw away at Fulham on 20 September, with a Lisandro MartΓnez own goal proving costly. Prior to that, they lost 0-1 at home to Manchester City and were knocked out of the Carabao Cup by Brighton, going down 2-3. The only bright spot in September was a commanding 4-0 Champions League group-stage win over Sabah FK at Old Trafford.
Behind Closed Doors & Fixtures Ahead
With so many first-team players away or unavailable, manager Michael Carrick has arranged a behind-closed-doors friendly during the break β using INEOS's multi-club network to keep the remaining squad match-sharp. Reports suggest a fringe 22-year-old has impressed Carrick's coaching staff during training and could even be handed a start when Premier League action resumes. United's next fixture is a home clash with Tottenham Hotspur at Old Trafford on 10 October, before a daunting run of six matches in 21 days that will severely test Carrick's depleted squad.
Carrick Under the Spotlight
Carrick, appointed United head coach at the start of 2026 following the sacking of Ruben Amorim, is under growing pressure after the difficult start to the 2026-27 season. An ESPN report noted that Carrick's job prospects remain unchanged in his own mind, with the former United midfielder focused purely on results. The fitness of Fernandes and Dorgu will be the most critical question heading into the October fixture run.
Transfer Talk
(Rumour) Multiple outlets are reporting that United have made contact with Como over a potential deal for French winger Lucas Da Cunha, with rivals also said to be interested β setting up a potential transfer battle in January. (Rumour) There is also widespread speculation that United are in discussions to sign an unnamed 57-cap international who shares the same agent as Bryan Mbeumo, described by one outlet as an "amazing" player. (Rumour) Meanwhile, Diogo Dalot appears to be edging closer to the exit door, with INEOS reportedly ready to move him on and replace him with a Brazilian full-back described as "very strong." On the outgoing front, there are fresh links connecting Marcus Rashford β currently on loan at Barcelona β with a possible permanent move away, while Joshua Zirkzee has been linked with Juventus. United are also said to have received a green light from Sir Jim Ratcliffe's INEOS for a January signing decision, which will be a relief to Carrick as he looks to bolster his injury-ravaged options.