Carrick confirms when he expects Cunha to return after Brazilian sat out against Brentford | OneFootball

Manchester United fans were forced to hold their breath ahead of Monday night’s Premier League showdown with Brentford. In a frustrating twist, in-form Brazilian forward Matheus Cunha was entirely left out of the matchday squad, abruptly ending his impressive streak of 10 consecutive starts under interim boss Michael Carrick.

But while his absence felt like a gut punch, the Red Devils might just have dodged a massive bullet heading into a season-defining weekend against Liverpool.

Cunha has been absolutely crucial to United’s recent resurgence, cementing his place as a key figure in the attack. Just last weekend, the £62.5m man bagged the decisive goal in a gritty 1-0 win over Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.

However, his heroics came at a cost, as he was replaced by Mason Mount in the 81st minute after experiencing muscle tightness.

Michael Carrick issues update on Cunha’s injury

Speaking to Sky Sports before the Brentford kick-off, Carrick shed some light on the situation.

“He just had a bit of a sore hip flexor after the [Chelsea] game,” the United boss explained, as reported by Daily Star.

“We thought he might have been okay but unfortunately he doesn’t make tonight”.

The club remains highly optimistic that the issue is merely a minor setback.

Man United hope to welcome Cunha back soon

Reports suggest Cunha could be green-lit to return to the squad just in time for Sunday’s massive blockbuster clash against Arne Slot’s Liverpool at Old Trafford.

As a result, Amad stepped up to fill Cunha’s shoes in the starting XI against the Bees.

Man United won the match 2-1 against Brentford at Old Trafford, putting themselves in a comfortable position to qualify for the Champions League next season.

Carrick now faces the challenge of facing Liverpool and a win against them would make his case stronger to get the United manager job permanently.