Mason Mount is expected to return to the Manchester United squad this weekend for the Premier League meeting with Ipswich, while Amad Diallo is set to remain unavailable until before the first international break of the season.
Mount has been out with a minor hamstring injury after being replaced during the first half of Manchester United’s friendly against Paris Saint-Germain in Gothenburg three weeks ago. The club initially said his withdrawal was a “precautionary measure”.
However, the 27-year-old subsequently missed Manchester United’s final two pre-season fixtures and was not involved in last weekend’s opening Premier League defeat by Hull City.
Mount has now resumed first-team training this week and is expected to be included in the squad for Sunday’s match against Ipswich. His return provides a boost for manager Michael Carrick as Manchester United look to respond to their disappointing start to the league campaign.
Diallo, meanwhile, faces a longer spell on the sidelines. The winger will not feature this week and is targeting a return before the first international break, which begins on 21 September.
Carrick said: “Amad Diallo won’t be playing this week. He’ll be out for a while longer. Mount is back with the team, which is great. He’s been training this week. For us, that’s very positive news.”
The Manchester United head coach also has further selection decisions to make, with several players who only returned to pre-season training after the World Cup now competing for places in the starting line-up.
Lisandro Martinez, Kobbie Mainoo and Marcus Rashford are among those pushing to be involved from the beginning against Ipswich.
Carrick said the size of his squad had given him a range of tactical and selection options ahead of the weekend.
He said: “We have a squad to choose from. We have a good group and can select different combinations within the team. So we’ll pick a team for the weekend. But yes, these lads are certainly very competitive.”
Mount’s availability could offer Manchester United another attacking option, particularly after he was forced to miss the club’s opening league fixture. His absence followed a disrupted pre-season, during which the injury was initially not expected to keep him out for a prolonged period.
Diallo’s continued absence means Manchester United will have to manage without another wide player for at least the immediate future. The club’s aim is for him to return before the international break begins on 21 September.
The personnel update was reported by the Manchester Evening News.
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