Michael Carrick has a Champions League away trip to plan and not nearly enough bodies to plan it with. Manchester United travel to Como on Wednesday evening (kick-off 17:45 BST) with a six-match winless run behind them and a casualty list that Sky Sports counts as nine unavailable first-team players.
Who Is Missing
The latest blow came in the 1-1 draw with Leeds, when Lisandro Martinez went off with a thigh problem. Carrick says the injury is "not that bad", but the defender is not travelling with the group. Kobbie Mainoo is looking at roughly another ten days out, and Luke Shaw will be absent for longer than that. Ayden Heaven is ill, Patrick Dorgu is among those sidelined, and Marcus Rashford is still dealing with a hip issue. Leny Yoro is suspended after his red card against Atletico Madrid, and up front Benjamin Sesko remains out.
"A bit of a mixed bag, we've got quite a few missing," Carrick admitted. He also promised a clearer picture on Sesko by the end of the week, saying work had been going on behind the scenes.
A Back Line Made of Gaps
The defence is where it hurts most. With Martinez and Yoro both unavailable, United need to find a workable centre-back pairing from whatever is left. That could bring Matthijs de Ligt back into the picture; he has not played since back surgery last November. Goal.com also points to academy options, naming Dan Armer, Jaydan Kamason and Harry Amass as players who could be thrown in. Carrick was open about Amass, saying he is "right in contention" and that "at some point players need an opportunity."
It is a hard moment for a young defender to be handed a chance. United beat Sabah 4-0 earlier in this Champions League campaign, but they lost 2-0 at Atletico Madrid last week, and the Leeds draw did nothing to settle nerves. This is a side short of both players and rhythm.
What to Expect in Italy
Carrick will probably lean on experience where he can and on youth where he must. The risk is that a patched-up back four struggles in front of a home crowd in Italy. The upside is that a young defender such as Amass could use the night to make a case for more minutes, and a result in Italy would ease the mood around a club that has not won in six.
Prediction: Como 1-1 Manchester United. United have enough quality to nick a point, but the injury list makes anything more look optimistic. After this one, Carrick waits on further medical assessments ahead of the weekend's domestic fixture.
Match facts: Como v Manchester United, UEFA Champions League league phase, Wednesday 21 October 2026, 17:45 BST. United are winless in six after a 1-1 draw with Leeds. Unavailable (reported): Martinez (thigh), Mainoo, Shaw, Heaven (ill), Dorgu, Rashford (hip), Sesko; Yoro suspended. This is our prediction, not a result.
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