Michael Carrick to Make Three Man Utd Changes vs Sabah as £48m Star Returns to XI
Manchester United return to Champions League action on Thursday as they welcome newcomers Sabah to Old Trafford, and head coach Michael Carrick is expected to shuffle his pack ahead of a hectic run of fixtures. With a tight turnaround of less than 72 hours before Sunday’s derby against Manchester City, rotation looks all but certain, and reports suggest Carrick could make at least three alterations to the side that drew 2-2 with Everton at the weekend.
Dalot Under Pressure at Right-Back
The first change is expected to come at right-back, where Diogo Dalot endured a difficult afternoon against the Toffees. The Portuguese defender struggled to get to grips with the pace of the game, was dribbled past on multiple occasions, made an error that led to a shooting chance for the opposition, and won only around three in ten defensive duels. Given that shaky display, and with United needing fresh legs for the derby just days later, Dalot looks the most likely candidate to make way.
Noussair Mazraoui is the frontrunner to come in as his replacement, viewed as the more natural fit for the right-back role compared to Leny Yoro, who remains an alternative option in that position if required.
Santos Poised for Recall in Midfield
In midfield, all eyes are on Andrey Santos, who has not started a match since United’s opening-day defeat to Hull City. The Brazilian, signed for a reported £48 million, has had to be patient for opportunities since then, largely due to the form and selection of Youri Tielemans. However, question marks over Tielemans’ effectiveness in progressing the ball forward have opened the door for Santos to potentially reclaim his place in the starting XI for the visit of Sabah.
Carlos Baleba, another summer arrival, remains unavailable through injury after picking up an ankle problem following his move from Brighton, meaning United’s options in the middle of the park are already somewhat limited — making Santos’ recall all the more likely.
Sesko Set for First Start of the Season
The third anticipated change comes in attack, where Benjamin Sesko could be handed his first start of the campaign. The Slovenian striker has been battling back from a shin issue that kept him out of pre-season, but he showed encouraging signs off the bench against Everton, including a well-taken headed goal that suggested he’s returning to full sharpness.
With Marcus Rashford considered a doubt after picking up a knock in the Everton game, the timing looks right for Carrick to hand Sesko his chance as the focal point of the attack. Under this scenario, Matheus Cunha would likely drop into a left-sided role rather than continuing as the makeshift number nine he has often been used as this season. Even if Rashford is passed fit in time, there’s a growing case for Carrick to prioritise a recognised centre-forward like Sesko over Cunha leading the line, given the balance and physical presence a specialist striker offers going into a busy fixture period.
The Bigger Picture
Taken together, these potential changes reflect the balancing act Carrick faces this week: managing fitness and freshness for a daunting run of games while still fielding a side capable of getting a positive result in Europe. A win over Sabah would be a valuable confidence boost and points total heading into Sunday’s derby, and getting key figures like Santos and Sesko back involved could prove important not just for Thursday, but for United’s squad depth over the coming weeks.