Carrick explains why Shaw missed training and gives Sesko fitness update | OneFootball

Michael Carrick revealed Luke Shaw could be in contention to play against Sabah FK despite missing training on Wednesday.

United trained early on Wednesday ahead of their first Champions League match since 2023, but were without first-choice left-back Shaw.

Carrick explained why the Englishman missed training and gave an update on his fitness.

“We just gave him an extra recovery day today,” he said. “We will see by tomorrow how he is but it is not an on-going thing or plan or anything like that off the back of the game the other day.

“As normal, each individual has different things we are managing and Luke is one of them today.”

Shaw was heavily involved in United’s draw against Everton on Sunday, assisting Benjamin Sesko’s late header which almost earned the Manchester side all three points, if not for Ainsley Maitland-Niles’ long-range effort.

Sesko has not started a match for United since suffering a shin injury at the end of last season. Carrick spoke about his fitness.

“He’s close to starting,” Carrick explained. “He missed a lot, but we’ve had to manage him and get him fit.

“He scored a fantastic goal. He did an awful lot for us last season, and he’s in a good place. It’s just a case of when he takes that next step.”

As previously mentioned, the match against Sabah FK will be United’s first in the Champions League since 2023, and Carrick’s first ever as a manager.

“We worked hard to be here,” Carrick said. “It’s great to be here, massively looking forward to the game and the campaign and try to make it as long as we can possibly make it.

“Big challenges ahead and real fantastic games starting tomorrow, so massively looking forward to it.”