Michael Carrick issues Luke Shaw and Carlos Baleba injury latest in Manchester United update | OneFootball

Surprise double fitness boost ahead of Fulham trip

The 22-year-old midfielder joined Man Utd from Brighton during the summer transfer window in a deal worth £70million, but has yet to feature for his new club after suffering an ankle injury during pre-season.

Carrick said in midweek that Baleba was closing in on a return to full training, with some minutes after upcoming October international break most likely.

But, just three days later, Carrick has confirmed that Man Utd fans could see Baleba for the first time this weekend in a huge boost to the team’s struggling form.

Asked about the fitness of Baleba and Luke Shaw, Carrick confirmed both have “a chance” of facing Fulham on Sunday. He added: “Not totally 100% on either.”

Shaw has not played since the 2-2 draw at Everton having sit out United’s last three matches with an unspecified problem.

Carrick said of the left-back: “It is really short term [with Shaw] but it is just working towards the game.”

The Man Utd manager is facing question marks over his future after a tough start to the season, which has left them on four points after four Premier League games and out of the Carabao Cup following a home defeat to Brighton.

He continued: “We’ve got to put things in perspective: it’s not a catastrophe or a disaster, it's not the end of the world, we’ve lost a couple of games recently.

“We feel we’ve started and been in all the games we’ve played, if not being the better team at the start of games. We’re not having a real struggle all the time.

“We’ve done a lot of good things, the belief comes from that. The good things we’ve done get lose in the surrounding feeling but they don’t get lost by us.”