Manchester United supporters have received a welcome update concerning summer acquisition Carlos Baleba, who recently made his first unofficial appearance for the club. The young midfielder featured in a secretive training ground fixture, providing a glimmer of optimism as Old Trafford battles an intensifying injury crisis.
Baleba, 22, completed a substantial £70 million ($93 million) transfer from Brighton in August. His debut run-out took place on Friday at Carrington, a behind-closed-doors match where United faced fellow INEOS-owned club Lausanne-Sport. According to ESPN, Baleba gained valuable playing time alongside established first-team players such as Harry Maguire and Matheus Cunha.
This appearance marks Baleba’s initial steps back onto the pitch after being sidelined with an ankle problem. The injury was sustained during pre-season while he was still with Brighton, rendering him unavailable for competitive action since his move to United. Although he was named among the substitutes for United’s 1-1 draw against Fulham before the international break, manager Erik ten Hag opted against risking him on that occasion.
Prior to this friendly outing, United’s head coach, Erik ten Hag, had assured fans that the marquee summer arrival was diligently working towards recovery. Speaking to official club media, Ten Hag confirmed that his new midfielder was “pushing to get back as quickly as possible” from the persistent injury.
Widespread Injury Concerns Plague Red Devils
Baleba’s progress arrives as a rare piece of positive news for Erik ten Hag, who is currently navigating a severe depletion of his squad. The international break has exacerbated United’s injury woes, with several key players picking up knocks or withdrawing from national team duties.
Noussair Mazraoui has added to the growing list of unavailable defenders after limping out of Morocco’s Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match against Lesotho earlier this week. The right-back landed awkwardly following a 68th-minute tackle and immediately signalled to the dugout, visibly discomforted.
Further setbacks include Marcus Rashford and Kobbie Mainoo, both of whom withdrew from the England squad to address their respective fitness concerns. Additionally, Amad Diallo, Benjamin Sesko, and Patrick Dorgu are all currently managing fresh fitness issues, severely limiting Ten Hag’s tactical flexibility and options across the squad.
Amidst these challenges, there was a brief scare surrounding star playmaker Bruno Fernandes. Portugal manager Jorge Jesus described Fernandes’ shin problem as “complicated.” Fortunately for United, Fernandes successfully overcame the issue and returned to start in his nation’s 4-2 victory over Denmark, easing fears of another major loss.
Tottenham Clash Looms Large
The Red Devils’ medical team faces an intense period, working diligently to clear the treatment room before domestic football resumes. Manchester United is scheduled to host Tottenham at Old Trafford on October 10 in a highly anticipated Premier League encounter.
Erik ten Hag will undoubtedly be eager to have as many of his key personnel available as possible for this crucial fixture. Should Carlos Baleba emerge unscathed from his friendly participation and continue to build his match fitness, the £70 million midfielder could finally be unleashed for his much-anticipated competitive debut against the North London club, offering a vital boost to the squad.