Manchester United Squad Boost Ahead of Fulham Clash

Manchester United travel to Fulham without Benjamin Sesko – but Michael Carrick’s squad has not arrived in London empty-handed.

The United boss has been handed a timely triple boost, with Carlos Baleba, Luke Shaw and Matthijs de Ligt all on the train south from Stockport on Saturday afternoon. All three made the journey, all three are in contention at Craven Cottage.

Sesko, though, was nowhere to be seen.

Sesko missing as United head south

The Manchester Evening News confirmed the Slovenian striker was not among the travelling party, casting serious doubt over his involvement on Sunday. For a side already under pressure after a bruising week, it is a significant absence.

Carrick has shown before that he is comfortable rolling without a recognised centre-forward, using a fluid front line instead of a traditional No. 9. He may have to lean on that approach again.

United arrive in west London needing a response. They were beaten in the Manchester derby, then dumped out of the Carabao Cup in the third round by Brighton. Fulham suddenly looks less like a routine league fixture and more like a test of nerve.

Shaw and Baleba race the clock

Carrick was quizzed before the trip about the chances of Shaw and Baleba making it back in time.

"There's kind of a chance with both of them. Don't know totally 100 per cent yet," he admitted. On Shaw, he added: "It's short-term, we're just working toward the game."

The tone was cautious, but the squad list told its own story. Both travelled. Both are close.

Baleba, a summer arrival still waiting to be fully integrated, has stepped up his work at Carrington. “We're trying to get Carlos back in. Well, I say back in, actually introducing him into the group,” Carrick explained. “So he's done a bit of training this week and, hopefully, we'll get Luke [Shaw] back in and around it this week and look forward to a strong game on the weekend."

The pressure finally eased a touch when he spoke about Baleba’s attitude. "Yeah, he's desperate to get started. He's bouncing around the place," Carrick said. The midfielder, he added, has “great personality” and “is full of enthusiasm” as he pushes to return as quickly as possible.

For a squad that has looked stretched and flat at times, that kind of energy matters.

De Ligt travels as United chase a reaction

De Ligt’s inclusion on the trip offers another lift. The Dutch defender is in the travelling group and in the frame to feature, adding experience and authority to a back line that has been shuffled too often already this season.

Carrick sounded broadly upbeat on the overall fitness picture. "We're looking good. Everyone's up and running. Over the last week or so, pretty much everyone has played and [been] fit," he said. United, at last, resemble something close to full strength.

The confirmed squad for Fulham underlines that depth:

• Goalkeepers: Lammens, Darlow, Mee.
• Defenders: Maguire, De Ligt, Yoro, Shaw, Dorgu, Mazraoui, Heaven, Martinez, Dalot.
• Midfielders: Fernandes, Tielemans, Mount, Mainoo, Santos, Baleba.
• Attackers: Lacey, Rashford, Mbeumo, Zirkzee, Cunha.

There is enough talent there to control a game, enough variety to hurt opponents in different ways. What United have lacked, brutally exposed in the last two matches, is consistency.

Craven Cottage will demand it. With Sesko absent and the margin for error shrinking, Carrick’s side cannot afford another step backwards.