Michael Carrick has revealed that Carlos Baleba faces up to three more weeks on the sidelines, pushing back his Manchester United debut. The 22-year-old completed a £70 million ($95.4 million) transfer to Old Trafford on Tuesday, finalizing the Red Devils' midfield overhaul.
However, the former Brighton and Hove Albion midfielder is dealing with an ankle injury picked up during preseason, ruling him out of United's Premier League home opener against Ipswich Town on Sunday.
"He's got a little ankle issue, so maybe a couple of weeks or so, maybe three weeks, but we'll see," Carrick explained, via The Mirror. "But we knew that before, so it's no major issue. It will be great to have him back."
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When pressed on whether Baleba could return before next month's international break, the United boss responded: "We'll wait and see, we're hopeful."
Carrick also confirmed that Amad will be absent, with the winger having sat out the opening 2-0 defeat at Hull City through injury. "Amad won't be involved this week," he added. "He'll be out a little bit longer."
On a brighter note, Mason Mount has returned to training after suffering a knock in United's second-to-last preseason game. "Mason's back round the group, he trained this week," Carrick said. "That's a real positive."
A week of training has provided Carrick with more match-ready options ahead of Sunday's showdown with Ipswich, who secured three points on their return to the top flight last weekend. Benjamin Sesko has bounced back from a shin problem, while Kobbie Mainoo and Marcus Rashford are pushing for starting spots following their lengthy FIFA World Cup campaigns with England.
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Carrick could bolster his squad before the fixture as the Red Devils scour the market for a left-back, though it remains unlikely that any new addition would be registered in time. Baleba became United's fourth signing of the summer transfer window, and Carrick is 'excited' to work alongside him.
"We're delighted to have Carlos," he went on to say. "I think huge potential, massive potential. I think this is a really exciting signing for us. The quality that he has, the attributes that he has, that offsets a little bit of the balance of the group that we've got.
"Different strengths, different combinations. So for us to have that, absolutely delighted to have him. There's so much more to come from him as well, which with the player that he already is, with that little bit more to come, is exciting for us."
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