Evening Standard
·17 aprile 2026
Michael Carrick delivers Kobbie Mainoo injury update as Man United size up Chelsea clash

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·17 aprile 2026

Red Devils' interim boss revealed plan to replace Lisandro Martinez and Harry Maguire after suspension blows
Kobbie Mainoo will face a late fitness test ahead of Manchester United’s Premier League visit to Chelsea, Michael Carrick has confirmed.
The young midfielder has been a mainstay since Carrick came in to replace Ruben Amorim but was a surprise absence from the team-sheet for Monday night’s defeat by Leeds.
Carrick revealed ahead of kick-off at Old Trafford that Mainoo had suffered a small injury in training, and it was hoped he would be passed fit in time to face Chelsea in a match which will have implications for the race to qualify for Europe.
It is not yet clear whether the young England international will be fit to face the Blues, though Carrick did confirm that Patrick Dorgu and Matthijs de Ligt are set to miss out.
Carrick explained: “Patrick is not [back]. He's going well, rehabbing well. He's on track but not with us, in terms of training back on the pitch. I've already said that. It's positive, he's doing really well.
“Kobbie is working a little bit towards it and doing a little bit, so there's a decision to be made there.”

Kobbie Mainoo suffered a minor injury in training
Getty
He continued, confirming Lisandro Martinez would serve his full three-match suspension after being sent off for pulling Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s hair on Monday night.
With both Martinez and Harry Maguire suspended for the trip to Stamford Bridge, Leny Yoro and Ayden Heaven seem Carrick’s most likely centre-back pairing.
Heaven, 19, has made just 14 Premier League appearances this season, eight of which have been starts, but Carrick spoke highly of him ahead of what may prove an important fixture in United’s run-in.
He added: “I think Ayden is a good place. I know he's in a good place, progressing through the early stages of his career. It's pretty natural to play some games and not others.
“He's training really well, learning and it's pretty natural for a centre-half of his age. He's probably well ahead of schedule, in terms of the games that he has played.
“He's trained well, done well with England a couple of weeks ago, and is looking forward to the game.”
He also implied that he did not see Yoro and Heaven being a long-term solution at centre-back.
“The future is the future, they need to keep progressing and we'll give them the opportunity to do that. They are probably in as good as a place you can be at their age for centre-backs.”
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