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Michael Carrick has confirmed that Patrick Dorgu will not feature for Manchester United against Roma.
The winger returned to team training after an extended lay-off with a hamstring injury that he picked up on international duty in September.
It left the Red Devils without one of their senior left-back options, and that has led them to be short in that position after Luke Shaw’s muscle injury which has also kept the England international out.
Dorgu’s comeback is a big boost to under-fire head coach Carrick, who has overseen a nine-game winless run which has piled on the pressure on the former midfielder.
Comeback trail: Patrick Dorgu
AFP/Getty
However, the Dane will not play any part as United return to continental competition tomorrow.
"It was his first day with the group, great to have him back, but he won't be involved tomorrow,” Carrick told the media. “We'll see how he progresses for the week [ahead]."
The sack looked as though it was looming after 4-1 and 3-0 thrashings by Como and Bournemouth respectively, but he was retained by the club’s hierarchy ahead of the trip to Chelsea last weeknend.
United were beaten once more by the Blues, with Morgan Rogers and Cole Palmer scoring for the hosts as Lisandro Martinez was sent off for the visitors, who slid to 17th in the Premier League table.
Carrick was also asked about Martinez’s mindset after the Argentine’s red card, which followed on from his stunning TV interview in the wake of the defeat by Atletico Madrid last month.
“I've got no concerns about commitment at all,” the head coach continued.
“Things happen in football, sometimes you make mistakes, sometimes it goes well for you, but commitment is not an issue, for sure."