Kobbie Mainoo is poised to return from injury for Manchester United against Chelsea on Saturday but Michael Carrick is set to remain without four other stars.
The United midfielder has missed his side’s last four games – with his side losing four and drawing the other during that run – due to a muscle injury.
The 21-year-old was back in full training on Wednesday morning, leaving him in the frame to return to action at Stamford Bridge on Saturday afternoon.
‘[In terms of] good news, Kobbie has done a little bit of training yesterday. So, he’s back and around the group, so that’s obviously positive,’ Carrick told a press conference on Thursday.
Mainoo was among the 22-man United squad pictured boarding the train to the capital from Stockport Station on Friday.
Marcus Rashford and Luke Shaw were not spotted among the group, however. Details over Shaw’s latest issue have been scarce, also missing his side’s last four games having last featured in the 1-1 draw with Tottenham.
His absence has caused havoc at left-back with the club’s decision not to sign another player for that position in the summer once again thrown under the spotlight.
Rashford meanwhile was an unused substitute against Leeds earlier in the month but missed defeats against Como and Bournemouth due to a hip issue. No further details over his issue have been provided with his return date unknown.
Patrick Dorgu also remains on the sidelines as he recovers from a hamstring injury suffered in the September international break.
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Benjamin Sesko makes up United’s injury list with the Slovenia international expected to be ruled out until January at the earliest with a shin injury.
Sesko first suffered the shin problem in the spring, missing the entire pre-season campaign as part of his recovery. He started just two matches before the issue struck again in September.
‘We’re still not clear on exactly how long but it’s going to be a longer period of time,’ Carrick said this week.
‘It was the process and, as I said to you before, we had to go through the process, a bit of a healing process for the injury, to see how it would react, in what direction to go with that.
‘So, even now, we’re still working through it but, yeah, it’s unfortunate. Obviously, first and foremost, for Ben, for the kind of period that he’s had and tried to get through it.
‘Going through this again, and for us to not have him available, is obviously a blow, but we’ll try to get him back as quick as we can.’
United secured a huge victory in west London last season with Matheus Cunha’s goal helping them take a decisive step towards Champions League qualification. Premier League tickets on HelloTickets at Stamford Bridge are still available with six points separating the two clubs ahead of kick-off.
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