Lisandro Martinez, Kobbie Mainoo, Luke Shaw, Ayden Heaven and Marcus Rashford missed United’s final training session before the flight to Italy. Carrick describes the news as a “mixed bag”.
Manchester United head coach Michael Carrick has ruled five players out of Wednesday’s Champions League game against Como. Martinez, Mainoo, Shaw, Heaven and Rashford all missed the final session at Carrington before the squad flew to Italy. Carrick was already without Patrick Dorgu, Benjamin Sesko and Manuel Ugarte through long-term injuries, and Leny Yoro is suspended after his red card against Atletico Madrid. United are short of senior defenders, and the match is at 5.45pm BST on Wednesday 21 October.
Carrick’s update
Asked about his new absentees, Carrick admitted the picture was “a mixed bag”. Martinez is the most likely to be available for Sunday’s game against Bournemouth.
“Licha is not too bad but he’s not with us,” Carrick said. “We’ll have to see if he’s ready for the weekend.”
He said Mainoo was out for longer. “Kobbie were looking at another 10 days or so. Luke a little bit longer than that,” he said.
He added: “A little bit of injury and illness in the camp. Ayden is ill and Marcus is still feeling a hip issue we’re trying to overcome.”
A thin defence
The absences leave United with only four available senior defenders, according to the research notes: Harry Maguire, Matthijs de Ligt, Noussair Mazraoui and Diogo Dalot. Martinez, Shaw, Heaven, Dorgu and Yoro are unavailable. That gives Carrick little room to rotate or make substitutions without turning to younger players. Sports Mole predicts a back four of Mazraoui, Maguire, De Ligt and Dalot, but Carrick has not confirmed his team.
De Ligt has returned to first-team training after back surgery and has not yet played competitively since. Before the Atletico game, Carrick said De Ligt had played in a friendly against Lausanne and done a good deal of training, and that he was comfortable using him but would manage his minutes. United’s training update says two academy players, Dan Armer and Jaydan Kamason, also trained with the first team on Tuesday. Neither has been promised a place in the matchday squad.
Form and tactics
United have gone six games without a win in all competitions, according to the research notes. They drew 1-1 with Leeds in their last league game, and lost 2-0 at Atletico Madrid in their last European match. They and Como have three points each from their first two Champions League fixtures. Como are fifth in Serie A and beat RB Leipzig 4-1 in Europe earlier this season.
With Sesko unavailable and Rashford out, Carrick could again use Bruno Fernandes as a false nine, as at Leeds, with Bryan Mbeumo and another forward alongside. Matheus Cunha is reportedly pushing for a start and Amad Diallo is another option. The system created chances in the first half at Elland Road, but United faded after the break. The notes give a predicted 4-3-3 of Lammens; Mazraoui, Maguire, De Ligt, Dalot; Baleba, Tielemans, Andrey Santos; Mbeumo, Fernandes, Cunha. That is a media prediction.
Como manager Cesc Fabregas also has doubts. UEFA’s predicted line-ups list Assane Diao as out with a thigh injury, and Trevoh Chalobah and Moise Kean as doubtful with muscle and shin problems. Predicted attackers include Nico Paz, Jesus Rodriguez, Martin Baturina and Anastasios Douvikas.
Weather warning
Heavy rain and thunderstorms are forecast around Lake Como on Wednesday, with an orange warning for Lombardy, according to the research notes. About 730 United fans are expected in the away section, which offers limited cover from rain. The match is still scheduled to go ahead, and there is no confirmed postponement.
