The 27-year-old's absence raised eyebrows but it's understood that it was always the plan that he would travel but wasn't expected to make the squad.

De Ligt has trained with the first-team squad again this week and is expected to be back amongst the substitutes sooner rather than later, potentially against either Atletico Madrid or Como in the Champions League.

Baleba debut

Talking of Baleba, he is in contention to start against Tottenham next Saturday as he continues to step up his training intensity.

The 22-year-old was at Carrington last week when most of his teammates were on holiday and he's been part of first-team training this week as well. Although he hasn't played since May, his body of training work could put him in the frame to start.

He also has minutes in his legs from Friday's behind-closed-doors friendly with Ineos-owned Lausanne-Sport, which offered the United players not away on international duty the chance to keep ticking over with a game.

Kone watch

The visit of Lausanne-Sport meant a return to Carrington for Sekou Kone, who is spending another season on loan with the Swiss Super League club as he looks to kickstart his career in Europe.

It's proving to be a much more productive loan for the 20-year-old, who has started six of nine league games and come off the bench in the other three, and his performances are attracting positive reviews this term.

The friendly offered a chance for United to assess Kone themselves, with the youngster suffering a stop-start career at the club so far.

Tyler Fredricson was also back at Carrington. The 21-year-old centre-back joined the club on a permanent deal this summer but has recently missed some action with a metatarsal injury.

Sesko wait

One player not involved in the friendly is Benjamin Sesko. The striker went to see his international teammates last weekend after being forced to withdraw from another Slovenian camp. He hasn't played for his country since November 2025 and we now wait to see if he has a chance of being fit next month.

United carried out more tests and scans on the 23-year-old's recurring shin injury last week and are working up a treatment plan. He had two months to rest it in the summer, as well as a tailored return to first-team training and matches, only to see the problem flare up again.

Carrick will be asked about Sesko's fitness at his press conference ahead of the Tottenham game next week and it will be interesting to see how he approaches it. He has been deliberately coy on fitness issues since he took over but there is concern that this is an ongoing issue for Sesko.

Carrington dispatch

It's been a week where the focus of the football world is on a different club in Manchester. The seismic judgement in the Premier League's case against City is one of the most stunning football stories over the past three decades.

There could be implications for United, both in terms of compensation and the potential to be awarded titles from 2011/12 and 2017/18, but at the moment the club are keeping schtum over events at the Etihad.

There is also the potential for awkwardness at United. Omar Berrada, now United's chief executive, was a key figure at the Etihad during this era, although there is no suggestion of wrongdoing.

During the dates to which the charges relate, Berrada was head of international business development, director of partnership sales and chief operating officer. Those are the kind of job titles that could potentially raise questions after that verdict although United's CEO has not been subject to any allegations during the process, and he was not asked to give evidence as part of the proceedings.

Quote of the week

"Manchester City arranged ‘sham’ contracts (which misrepresented the true agreement between the parties) with a number of its commercial partners, as well as relying on ‘sham’ agreements with others, to artificially inflate the club’s revenues and reduce its costs."

Sham City is a nickname that is going to be hard to live down. It's impossible to look past events involving the Premier League and Manchester City this week, and as discussed above, it could have an impact on United.

What to look out for next week

It will be time for cake and balloons on Tuesday when JJ Gabriel turns 16, and his future could become a little clearer. That is the date on which it is expected he can sign for a European club, with an EU passport, and ask FIFA to approve the move.

United will offer the teenager scholarship terms to ensure they are covered for some compensation, even if it is likely to be in the range of £200,000 to £300,000.

It's likely to be the week when Gabriel's future becomes a lot clearer.