Man United injury latest: Bruno Fernandes, Marcus Rashford and more

Manchester United Injury News Mounts Ahead of Tottenham Clash

Manchester United have made a poor start and there is no point dressing it up. Five points from their Premier League campaign so far, an early exit from the Carabao Cup, and now an injury list that has grown during the international break. For Michael Carrick, the timing is rotten. Tottenham are next at Old Trafford, and United need players back, not more names added to the medical bulletin.

This is where things stand, player by player, with the biggest focus on Bruno Fernandes, Marcus Rashford and Patrick Dorgu.

Bruno Fernandes fitness remains a real concern

Fernandes is the obvious headline case because he is central to everything United do. He had already played in every match for club this season and then came through more minutes for Portugal, though not without concern. He was taken off late in the win over Wales, and the message afterwards was far from reassuring.

Portugal head coach Jorge Jesus said: “The medical team identified these two players as the most concerning, Nuno Mendes could be available for the game. “The other case [Fernandes] involves treatment and recovery time. He’s coming off an injury at United, and he told me he’s been playing with that pain for the last three games, which is hindering him. “It was one of the factors that prevented Bruno from playing at his best against Wales.”

That is clear enough. Fernandes has been carrying a problem, and he has been managing it rather than resolving it. He sat out the following game against Norway, then returned to start in a 4-2 win over Denmark, producing two assists. So he can still perform, but that does not mean the issue has gone away. Right now, the expectation is that he will be available for Tottenham on October 10, but there is a difference between being available and being fully fit.

Marcus Rashford and Kobbie Mainoo should be back

Rashford withdrew from England duty after picking up a knock against Fulham. It was described as minor, and that matters. Carrick had sounded unsure in the immediate aftermath, saying: “We had to bring him off, as he had a bit of an issue. I’m not sure [if he’s alright],” after the draw at Craven Cottage.

Photo: IMAGO

The feeling around Rashford is that this is manageable rather than serious. He landed awkwardly after a heavy challenge, and the break may have come at the right moment. United need his pace and directness, especially in a game where they may need transitions and quick attacks to hurt Tottenham.

Mainoo is a different case. His withdrawal from England duty raised eyebrows, but there has been no strong indication of an actual injury. The likelier explanation is load management. Given his age, his importance, and the amount of football he has already played, that is not unreasonable. Unless something changes, he should be in line to feature against Spurs.

Patrick Dorgu and Benjamin Sesko pose bigger problems

Dorgu is the latest problem and arguably the most immediate one. He started for Denmark against Wales, then went down off the ball and left the pitch after half an hour. It looked like a hamstring issue, and those are the sort of injuries that rarely clear up in a few days. Until there is a proper update, this has to be treated as a serious doubt.

Sesko is another concern with less clarity than United would like. He has suffered a flare-up of the shin problem that already disrupted the end of last season and the start of this one. He had appeared to be moving past it after starting against Sabah, then was missing again for the trip to Fulham. Carrick said: “It was a pain in his shin. We’re not sure with him yet. He felt a bit of pain after the game. We’re assessing him. He definitely wasn’t ready for today.”

That tells you what you need to know. United are still assessing, and there is no firm return date. Sesko also chose not to join up with Slovenia, which usually suggests the problem is significant enough to require caution. The Tottenham match may come too soon unless there is rapid improvement.

Amad, De Ligt and long-term absentees shape the wider picture

There is at least some encouragement elsewhere. Amad Diallo has not played yet this season after suffering an ankle injury in the summer, but before the international break Carrick indicated his return was getting closer. He was said to be weeks away rather than months away, and there is a reasonable chance he can make the squad for Tottenham.

Matthijs de Ligt is also edging towards a comeback after a miserable spell out with the back injury he suffered at Crystal Palace in November 2025. He had surgery in May and is now nearing the end of a long rehabilitation. If he returns next month, that would be close to a year sidelined. Even then, expecting him to step straight back in at top level would be optimistic.

Elsewhere, Karl Darlow has dropped out of the Wales squad with an unspecified injury. As backup goalkeeper, his absence is not the headline issue, but it still chips away at depth. Tom Heaton remains out with the hamstring problem he picked up in pre-season against Paris Saint-Germain.

Then there is Manuel Ugarte, whose situation is the simplest and bleakest. He is recovering from surgery after tearing his ACL while on international duty with Uruguay at the World Cup. His expected return is not until spring or summer 2027, and with his future already uncertain after being transfer-listed last summer, there is no guarantee he plays for United again.

The broad picture is straightforward. Fernandes and Rashford are expected back, Mainoo should be fine, Amad and De Ligt are moving closer, while Dorgu and Sesko are the genuine worries. For a side already short on momentum, that matters. Carrick does not need miracles before Tottenham. He just needs enough fit players to field a balanced team, and right now even that feels like a win.