Carrick confirmed on Friday that his squad has been hollowed out by injuries just as pressure on his position reaches its peak. Kobbie Mainoo, Luke Shaw, Marcus Rashford, Benjamin Sesko, Patrick Dorgu, Lisandro Martinez and Manuel Ugarte are all set to miss the Old Trafford fixture.

The United head coach told reporters at his pre-match press conference that he still believes he can arrest a run that has produced only one Premier League win all season.

“We’ve kind of lost our way a little bit if I’m totally honest and we’ll get it back. I’m totally confident we’ll get it back.”

United sit 13th in the table before matchday eight and have gone seven matches in all competitions without a win. The club has nonetheless confirmed Carrick will remain in charge for Sunday.

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Como loss still raw

Wednesday night’s 4-1 defeat in Italy to Champions League debutants Como has intensified the scrutiny of the former United midfielder. Nico Paz curled in the opener inside two minutes before Tasos Douvikas, Paz again and Jacobo Ramon added further goals. Joshua Zirkzee pulled one back late on.

Carrick called the night “really unacceptable” and admitted to The42 that it “hurt me”. He also pointedly declined to confirm whether Bruno Fernandes would continue as captain, saying only that his focus was on “what is best for the football club”.

Who is out, and why

The list is long enough to force wholesale changes. Mainoo picked up his problem against Tottenham and is expected to be out around ten days. Shaw sustained a knock in the same match and has already missed three fixtures. Dorgu suffered a hamstring injury on international duty and faces a lay-off of several weeks. Sesko has not played since 13 September due to a recurring shin complaint. Ugarte’s ACL injury rules him out until next year, and Martinez picked up a thigh problem against Leeds. Rashford is managing what Carrick described as a hip issue.

There is one piece of better news in central defence: Leny Yoro returns from a European ban and is a candidate to partner Harry Maguire. Zirkzee may finally be rewarded with a Premier League start after his Como consolation.

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Bournemouth also in the bottom half

United host Bournemouth on Sunday 25 October at 2pm local time. The visitors sit 15th, two places behind the hosts and one point back in the table.

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