It is going from bad to worse for Manchester United as defeat to Como in the Champions League has increased the pressure on Michael Carrick.
United travelled to Italy on the back of a 1-1 draw against Leeds, but were without several senior players - including Leny Yoro after he was sent-off in the 2-0 loss to Atletico Madrid on matchday two.
Lisandro Martinez
A few days removed from the post-Atletico Madrid outburst, Martinez played the first half at Elland Road and went in at the break with United 1-0 up thanks to Bryan Mbeumo’s smart finish 10 minutes before half-time.
However, he did not appear for the second half as he was replaced by a returning Noussair Mazraoui before joining the rest of the Man United substitutes on the bench.
Carrick has since provided an update, confirming Martinez picked up a knock.
Lisandro Martinez missed the loss to Como
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“He felt his thigh a little bit,” the Man United boss told reporters.
Carrick said on Tuesday that Martinez’s injury was “not that bad” which suggests he could return against Bournemouth at the weekend.
Potential return date: Sunday October 25 vs Bournemouth (H)
Marcus Rashford
Another notable absentee from the Man United travelling squad for the Como game was Marcus Rashford as he is struggling with a hip issue.
“Marcus is still feeling a hip issue that we're trying to overcome,” Carrick revealed in the pre-match press conference.
The fact Rashford remained an unused substitute at Elland Road last weekend, particularly with Man Utd chasing a winner, suggests the issue is far more serious.
Potential return date: Unknown
Kobbie Mainoo
Kobbie Mainoo has now missed Man United’s last three games after playing 90 minutes in the 1-1 draw with Tottenham immediately following the international break.
The nature of the midfielder has not yet been disclosed and the updates had been few and far between since he missed training before the Atletico Madrid match.
Though, speaking before the loss to Como, Carrick revealed Mainoo would be out for another “10 days or so”, meaning he is in a race against the clock to be fit for the Chelsea game at the end of the month
Potential return date: Saturday October 31 vs Chelsea (A)
Luke Shaw
Luke Shaw’s absence has caused a reshuffle at left-back as Ayden Heaven, Diogo Dalot and Mazraoui have all filled in there recently.
While not a great deal is known about Shaw’s knock, he is expected to be sidelined longer than Mainoo.
Potential return date: Unknown
Luke Shaw and Kobbie Mainoo have not played for Manchester United since the draw with Tottenham
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Ayden Heaven
Heaven went from a starter in Madrid to not even making the matchday squad at all against Leeds or Como.
It has been confirmed that the reason for his absence is down to illness, so it is just a case of seeing how quickly he can make a full recovery as he should not be sidelined for too long.
Potential return date: Sunday October 25 vs Bournemouth (H)
Patrick Dorgu
Patrick Dorgu started for Denmark against Wales in the Nations League last month, but was hauled off with 30 minutes on the clock after sustaining a hamstring injury.
With the Dane capable of operating at left-back - having done so against Sabah and Manchester City earlier in the season - his absence comes at the worst possible time.
The worry is that Dorgu is facing a prolonged spell on the sidelines.
Speaking ahead of the 1-1 draw with Tottenham, Carrick said: “It looks like he'll be out for a number of weeks.”
Potential return date: November
Benjamin Sesko
Benjamin Sesko has suffered a fresh flare-up of the shin injury which saw him miss the last few games of his debut season at United.
He had seemed to be back at full fitness after featuring against Hull, Ipswich, Everton, Sabah, Manchester City and Brighton, but was left out of the squad entirely for the trip to Fulham and has missed the last three games since the international break.
Speaking before the Leeds game, Carrick insisted it was too early to set timeframe on a return for the striker.
Benjamin Sesko has been a big miss for Manchester United recently
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“Ben’s kind of still undergoing a couple of checks before we update on timelines or anything,” the Man United head coach told reporters.
“We’re just trying to be clear with what that looks like.
“He’s still a little bit further away, but when we know we’ll let you know.”
Potential return date: Unknown
Manuel Ugarte
Manuel Ugarte has not played a single minute for Man United this season after his World Cup earlier in the summer was cut short due suffering a ligament injury while representing Uruguay.
The midfielder was stretchered off during Uruguay’s 1-0 defeat by Spain in group phase and while Ugarte’s recovery period is still to be determined, he is not expected to return until 2027.
Potential return date: Spring/Summer 2027