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Man Utd hit by double injury blow as Dorgu & Mazraoui limp off on international duty

📅 September 30, 2026 · By Liberia Sports Live · AI-assisted match report · 👁 5

Injury update: Dorgu and Mazraoui latest worries

Michael Carrick's squad has been hit by a damaging double injury scare during the September international break. Patrick Dorgu was forced off early during Denmark's Nations League win over Wales, and the club has now confirmed the winger is returning to Manchester with a thigh problem. Denmark head coach Brian Riemer told broadcaster TV2 that Dorgu "has an injury and has to go home," while the Danish FA posted on social media that he had officially withdrawn from the squad. Separately, defender Noussair Mazraoui came off in the 69th minute of Morocco's 2-0 win over Lesotho after landing awkwardly while challenging for the ball. He was replaced by Achraf Hakimi, and his fitness is now being assessed ahead of the Premier League restart.

Captain Bruno Fernandes adds another layer of uncertainty. The Portuguese midfielder was left out of Portugal's squad for their victory over Norway as a precaution, having played 89 minutes against Wales. Portugal coach Jorge Jesus is hopeful Fernandes will be available for his remaining squad duties, but United fans will be watching closely as he returns to Carrington.

Recent form under the microscope

United go into the international break with just five points from five Premier League games, sitting 12th in the table — a position that has piled pressure on manager Michael Carrick. Their most recent league outing was a 1-1 draw at Craven Cottage on 20 September, where a Lisandro Martínez own goal gifted Fulham the lead before Matheus Cunha snatched a late equaliser for the Red Devils. The result extended United's winless Premier League run to three matches. Prior to that, they suffered a 0-1 home defeat to ten-man Manchester City in the derby on 13 September — a result Gary Neville labelled as one of the worst displays he had seen in nearly 50 years — and were knocked out of the Carabao Cup 2-3 by Brighton on 16 September. The one bright spot in September was a commanding 4-0 Champions League victory over Sabah FK on 10 September, which Carrick hailed as a perfect night on United's return to European competition.

Academy news: Ajayi signs pro deal

In more positive academy news, 17-year-old winger Noah Ajayi put pen to paper on a long-term professional contract with the club on 25 September. Born in Hamburg to a Nigerian father and a German mother, Ajayi joined United's academy in 2019 at the age of ten. He impressed heavily last season, scoring nine goals and adding an assist in 22 Under-18 appearances, and has already represented Germany at Under-19 level. The signing is seen as a significant retention win, coming amid ongoing uncertainty surrounding fellow academy prospect JJ Gabriel, who has been linked with a move to Barcelona.

Kobbie Mainoo: Player of the Month

Despite the turbulence around the team, midfielder Kobbie Mainoo was a landslide winner of Manchester United's Player of the Month award for September — a rare moment of cheer for supporters who have been frustrated by the club's sluggish league start.

Transfer talk

Note: The following are rumours and have not been confirmed by the club.

Papers in England are linking United with a move for Barcelona and Spain left-back Alejandro Baldé when the January window opens, with Sky Sports reporting that United are keeping a close eye on the defender. United had reportedly approached his representative Jorge Mendes toward the end of the summer window but were unable to get a deal done before the 1 September deadline. The left-back position remains a priority concern for Carrick's coaching staff following a summer that saw big midfield investment in Andrey Santos, Youri Tielemans, and Carlos Baleba. Separately, reports from TeamTalk suggest United are monitoring Chelsea's Cole Palmer ahead of a potential January approach, though Palmer is said to have already reached a personal decision on any switch. There are also unconfirmed whispers of United pursuing a January bid for Sunderland striker Brian Brobbey, though Sunderland are reported to have made up their mind on keeping him. Meanwhile, wonderkid JJ Gabriel — who travelled to Barcelona for talks — appears increasingly likely to leave Old Trafford, with Chelsea leading La Liga giants in the race for his signature, according to Caught Offside.

Sources

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