Fernandes, Rashford, Mainoo among Manchester United injury concerns ahead of Tottenham clash
Michael Carrick will hope Manchester United’s squad emerges from the international break unscathed ahead of their Premier League meeting with Tottenham at Old Trafford on October 10. The club returned from the window with an expanded injury list that has added to concerns over a poor start to the season.
United have just five points in the Premier League this season and have been knocked out of the Carabao Cup, and five players were added to the club’s injured list since the international window opened. Amad has returned to team training and is expected to be available for the Tottenham fixture. With the match against struggling Tottenham scheduled immediately after the break, Carrick needs available players to arrest United’s slide up the standings.
Bruno Fernandes was Manchester United’s first concern after being replaced in Portugal’s Nations League victory against Wales; he has appeared in every United match this season and was substituted in the 90th minute. Manager Jorge Jesus expressed worry about his fitness at full-time and is hopeful that he will be able to play against Denmark in their third game of the international break, even if he did not play in their next game against Norway; if he does not reach that meeting there will be concerns. Potential return date: October 10 vs Tottenham (H)
Marcus Rashford withdrew from England duty before the Three Lions’ camp after suffering a slight injury in the closing moments of United’s draw with Fulham prior to the international break. It is anticipated that he will have recovered in time for Tottenham’s visit to Old Trafford. Potential return date: October 10 vs Tottenham (H)
Mainoo’s withdrawal from England’s squad for this international window prompted questions, although he did not provide a clear explanation and it is not believed he was injured. Load management is considered the probable reason for his absence, and he is expected to be available once Manchester United return from the break. Potential return date: October 10 vs Tottenham (H)
Carrick’s most immediate worry is Benjamin Dorgu, who started for Denmark against Wales but, after 30 minutes, fell off the ball and walked off; it appeared to be a hamstring issue that could sideline him for some time.
Amad has not featured this season because of an ankle injury sustained in the summer, and Carrick hinted before the international break that he might return in a few weeks and could be in contention for the Spurs game. Sesko missed the end of the previous season and the start of this one with a shin flare-up and chose not to represent his country, leaving his post-break availability unclear. De Ligt is set to miss around a year after a back injury sustained at Crystal Palace in November 2025 and underwent surgery in May; he travelled to West London with his teammates despite not being named to the matchday squad and hopes to be declared fit after another three weeks of recuperation. Backup goalkeeper Darlow left the Wales squad injured and the nature and severity of his problem remain unclear. Ugarte is still recovering from surgery to repair an ACL tear sustained while playing for Uruguay at the World Cup and will be out for the greater portion of the current season; Potential return date: Spring/Summer 2027. United’s third-choice custodian missed all of this season after suffering a hamstring injury in a preseason friendly against Paris Saint-Germain last month but is likely to be fit to face Spurs.
Several players are listed with a potential return date of October 10 versus Tottenham at Old Trafford, and the fixture is scheduled for 10 pm IST on 10th Oct.