Carrick faces selection crisis as 9 Man United players set to miss crucial Ipswich clash

Manchester United will have to cope with a lengthy absentee list when Ipswich Town visit Old Trafford, with new signing Carlos Baleba among those unavailable.

Manchester United face a difficult selection situation ahead of their Premier League meeting with Ipswich Town, with several first-team players set to miss the Old Trafford clash as Michael Carrick attempts to secure his first points of the new campaign.

The Red Devils began the season with a disappointing 2-0 defeat away to newly promoted Hull City, increasing the pressure on Carrick to deliver a response in front of the home supporters.

New signing Carlos Baleba is one of the biggest absentees after arriving from Brighton with an ankle injury, with Carrick confirming that the Cameroon international could be sidelined for around three weeks.

Amad Diallo is also unavailable after suffering a minor training injury, while Matthijs de Ligt and Tom Heaton remain sidelined as they continue their respective recoveries.

Manuel Ugarte is another notable absentee, further reducing Carrick’s midfield options. Mason Mount, however, provides a positive development after returning to group training and could potentially feature, depending on his fitness.

United’s injury problems come at an awkward time, with Ipswich arriving in Manchester full of confidence after opening their campaign with a 2-1 victory over Sunderland before adding a Carabao Cup win against Leicester City.

Gary O’Neil’s side will nevertheless have their own concerns, with Jaden Philogene, Florentino Luis, Azor Matusiwa and Jack Taylor among the players expected to miss the trip.

United will therefore need to find solutions with a depleted squad, particularly after failing to score against Hull despite creating opportunities.

The pressure on Carrick is already considerable, and another poor result could leave the former United midfielder facing difficult questions just two matches into the campaign.

With Ipswich carrying momentum and United desperate for a response, Sunday’s encounter represents an early test of Carrick’s ability to manage adversity and restore confidence at Old Trafford.