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Michael Carrick Issues Carlos Baleba Injury Update, "It Doesn't Look Great..."
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- Michael Carrick Issues Carlos Baleba Injury Update, "It Doesn't Look Great..."
Michael Carrick made two changes to his starting XI as Manchester United welcomed AS Roma to Old Trafford in the Champions League , with Kobbie Mainoo returning to midfield and Lisandro Martínez dropping out.
Despite a promising start, United found themselves 2-0 down within 15 minutes. Matias Soulé capitalised on poor defending from Diogo Dalot before Donyell Malen converted a penalty following Ayden Heaven's handball, leaving Carrick's side with another mountain to climb.
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Bruno Fernandes pulled one back from the spot after his initial penalty was saved but retaken for encroachment. Bryan Mbeumo then struck both posts before Matheus Cunha eventually levelled the score in the 82nd minute, pouncing on a poorly defended Fernandes cross.
With five minutes remaining, impressive substitute Shea Lacey played Cunha through to fire home a stunning winner at the near post. The Brazilian was then sent off for a second yellow card in added time, but United held firm to complete a remarkable 3-2 comeback victory.
Carrick confirms latest on Baleba
In the opening seconds of the second half, new United signing Carlos Baleba made a brilliant run into Roma's area, but just seconds before squaring it across the six-yard box for an almost certain goal, the Cameroon international pulled up.
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It was immediately obvious that Baleba had suffered a genuine hamstring injury, as the player headed straight down the tunnel with a ginger limp and was replaced by Youri Tielemans.
After the fixture, reporters asked Carrick in his post-match press conference for an update on Baleba, and he admitted the midfielder could be in trouble.
"I haven't got any more news on Carlos at this stage, but obviously it looks... It's his hamstring," Carrick explained.
"So we'll just have to assess what that looks like. I mean, initially, it doesn't look great. Timelines? I haven't got much more to give you."
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Baleba will likely undergo scans over the next day or so to get a clearer picture of the severity of his injury.
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When it rains, it pours...
United's on-pitch performances have been so bad this season that injuries have played only a minor role in Carrick's men's incredible fall from grace compared to last season.
Those like Benjamin Šeško and Baleba missed all of pre-season, while Luke Shaw, Marcus Rashford, and Noussair Mazraoui have all spent time out already this season.
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United have missed so many key players through injury, and with Šeško and Baleba likely not to return before the new year, depending on the latter's scans in the coming days, the options are only thinning.
United need to fix up on the field, but you can't help but think that if Carrick had more options, the mess wouldn't be as dire.
