Michael Carrick is facing a selection headache in defence as Manchester United prepare to take on Como in the Champions League.

Not only is Carrick contending with his side’s poor form, he could, potentially, be without as many as 10 senior players for matchday three of this season’s league phase.

A 1-1 draw with Leeds United on Sunday made it six without a win for Man Utd, ramping up the pressure on Carrick in the Old Trafford hotseat.

Man United’s last foray in continental competition was tumultuous to say the least - a 2-0 defeat to Atletico Madrid that saw Leny Yoro dismissed before Lisandro Martinez took aim at technical director Jason Wilcox in his post-match interview.

Despite the outburst, Martinez started Man Utd’s ‘Roses derby’ with Leeds at the weekend, only to be forced off at the break due to a thigh injury. As such, the Argentine international is a doubt for Wednesday’s game.

Kobbie Mainoo, Luke Shaw, and Ayden Heaven all missed the squad for the draw with Leeds. Marcus Rashford was named on the bench but did not make an appearance, with the England international joining the aforementioned trio and Martinez in missing open training on Tuesday morning.

Other missing players included long-term absentees Benjamin Sesko, Patrick Dorgu, and Manuel Ugarte. Third-choice goalie Tom Heaton also took no part in training.

Yoro, of course, will play no part due to suspension and will likely be replaced by Noussair Mazraoui, but Harry Maguire’s central defensive partner is harder to guess.

If Martinez’s thigh issue keeps him out then Matthijs de Ligt is the only other senior option, though he has not played competitively for Man United in nearly a year.

Lisandro Martinez is a doubt for Man United’s Champions League

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Carrick experimented with operating with no clear number nine against Leeds, finding some joy in the first half. However, Man Utd offered very little going forward in the second period, so expect to see a focal point up top against Como.

With Rashford a doubt due to the knock he has been carrying, Carrick could opt to stick with the same front three that started at Elland Road, but Matheus Cunha is pushing for a start and may replace Amad Diallo.

This would mean Bruno Fernandes continues in a false nine role, with the midfield trio of Youri Tielemans, Andrey Santos and Carlos Baleba starting alongside each other for a third successive game.

Predicted Manchester United XI: Lammens; Mazraoui, Maguire, De Ligt, Dalot; Baleba, Tielemans, Santos; Mbeumo, Fernandes, Cunha.

Injured: Sesko, Dorgu, Ugarte, Heaton

Doubts: Rashford, Martinez, Mainoo, Shaw, Heaven

Suspended: Yoro

Time and date: 5.45pm BST on Wednesday, October 21, 2026

How to watch: TNT Sports

Venue: Stadio Giuseppe Sinigaglia