According to a report by London Evening Standard on Tuesday, October 27, 2026, Manchester United are dealing with several injury problems as Michael Carrick prepares his team for their upcoming Premier League showdown against Chelsea.

The Red Devils have struggled to produce convincing results in recent weeks, with their disappointing 3-0 defeat to Bournemouth at Old Trafford extending their winless run to eight matches across all competitions.

While United avoided further injury problems during their latest league outing, the absence of several established players continues to affect Carrick's ability to select his strongest starting eleven.

Ahead of Saturday's encounter against Chelsea on October 31, attention has turned towards the fitness of six players who are currently recovering from different injuries.

Marcus Rashford

The England international remains unavailable after experiencing a persistent hip problem that has disrupted his involvement in recent fixtures.

Rashford missed United's Champions League meeting with Como, having previously remained an unused substitute during the encounter against Leeds United.

He was also absent from the squad that suffered defeat against Bournemouth.

Carrick has indicated that the club's medical department is attempting to address the issue properly rather than rushing the attacker back into competitive action.

However, there has been no confirmation regarding when Rashford will resume playing.

Potential return date: Unknown.

Kobbie Mainoo

Manchester United could receive an important midfield boost if Kobbie Mainoo completes his recovery before the Chelsea fixture.

The young England international has missed four successive matches because of a muscular problem sustained before United's Champions League encounter against Atletico Madrid.

Carrick recently provided an encouraging update, suggesting that Mainoo was making progress and could require approximately ten additional days to regain full fitness.

With the Chelsea match scheduled for October 31, there remains a possibility that the midfielder could return to the matchday squad.

Nevertheless, his participation will depend on further medical assessments and his response to training.

Potential return date: October 31, against Chelsea.

Luke Shaw

United continue to monitor Luke Shaw's recovery as the experienced defender remains sidelined.

His absence has created difficulties in the left-back position, forcing Carrick to consider different defensive combinations.

Diogo Dalot, Noussair Mazraoui and Ayden Heaven have emerged as possible alternatives while Shaw works towards returning to action.

The United manager previously explained that the England defender would likely need a longer rehabilitation period than Mainoo.

Consequently, Shaw's chances of featuring against Chelsea appear uncertain, particularly because the club has not provided a confirmed recovery timetable.

Potential return date: Unknown.

Patrick Dorgu

Denmark international Patrick Dorgu is another defender expected to miss Manchester United's upcoming Premier League assignment.

The youngster suffered a hamstring problem while representing his country against Wales in the UEFA Nations League.

He experienced discomfort during the opening stages of the encounter and was eventually forced to leave the pitch after approximately half an hour.

Subsequent examinations following his return to Manchester revealed that the injury would require an extended recovery period.

Carrick later acknowledged that Dorgu would be unavailable for several weeks, making his involvement against Chelsea highly unlikely.

Potential return date: November 2026.

Benjamin Sesko

Manchester United's attacking options have also been weakened by the continued absence of Benjamin Sesko.

The Slovenian international has been experiencing problems with his shin, an injury concern that previously interrupted his playing schedule.

Although the striker initially returned to action, the discomfort reportedly resurfaced and prevented him from participating in United's three most recent matches following the international break.

Sesko's absence represents another setback for Carrick, whose team has struggled to produce consistent attacking performances.

With the Red Devils searching for solutions to their disappointing results, the striker's eventual return could provide additional competition in the forward positions.

However, United have yet to announce a specific date for his comeback.

Potential return date: Unknown.

Manuel Ugarte

Among the players currently sidelined, Manuel Ugarte faces what appears to be the most prolonged absence.

The Uruguay international sustained a serious ligament injury during his country's World Cup encounter against Spain.

The midfielder required immediate medical attention before being taken off the field on a stretcher.

The injury has prevented Ugarte from making an appearance for Manchester United during the current campaign.

His rehabilitation is expected to continue for several months, with a return before the latter stages of the season appearing unlikely.

Depending on his recovery progress, the midfielder could remain unavailable until the spring or summer of 2027.

Potential return date: Spring or summer 2027.

Manchester United will be hoping for positive developments from their medical department before travelling to face Chelsea.

Mainoo currently appears to have the clearest possibility of returning for the encounter, although his availability remains dependent on successfully completing his rehabilitation.

Meanwhile, Carrick must prepare alternative plans for the other injured players as United attempt to recover from their disappointing performances.

Saturday's meeting with Chelsea represents another significant challenge for the Red Devils, who urgently need a positive result to rebuild confidence and improve their position in the Premier League standings.

With several important players still recovering, Carrick faces the difficult responsibility of finding a competitive starting lineup capable of ending Manchester United's eight-match winless streak.