BREAKING:Manchester united issue Carlos Baleba expected returning date ahead…………..See more
Brighton and Hove Albion
Manchester United issue Carlos Baleba expected return date ahead of Brighton clash
Derren Howard
By Derren Howard
Chief sports correspondent
Published 15th Sep 2026, 14:38 BST
Updated 15th Sep 2026, 14:42 BST
Gull-Mouth Action podcast: Brighton and Hove Albion travel to Coventry after Leeds drawGull-Mouth Action podcast: Brighton and Hove Albion travel to Coventry after Leeds draw
Carabao Cup third round: Manchester United vs Brighton from Old Trafford – Wednesday, 8pm
Sign up to our Brighton and Hove Albion FC newsletter
Enter your email
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Notice and Terms of Service apply.
Manchester United boss Michael Carrick hopes to have new midfielder Carlos Baleba available shortly.
The Cameroon international joined United from Brighton last month for £70m.
Baleba is currently sidelined with an ankle injury and is yet to feature for Carrick’s team. The club posted pictures Baleba training yesterday but the Carabao Cup clash against his former club will arrive too soon for the 22-year-old.
by TaboolaSponsored Links
You May Like
Get Your First Bet Refund
Sign up today and receive free bet offers to start playing on MSport.
MSport
The United boss said: “He’ll be back in and around the group at some point over the next week or so, so that means after international (break) he should be in good shape.”
United’s first match after the international break is against Tottenham at Old Trafford on October 10.
Baleba could make his first appearance against his former Brighton boss Roberto De Zerbi who is now in charge at Spurs.
Carrick also said Luke Shaw “could possibly be fit” to face the Seagulls but it is “not clear-cut”.
Carrick wants derby day reaction
Meanwhile, Carrick expects United to channel their frustration over the weekend’s costly derby decision as they attempt to kick-start their stuttering season against Brighton in the Carabao Cup.
Having brought a feelgood factor and Champions League football back to Old Trafford, the mood is beginning to darken with the team having begun the campaign with four points from as many Premier League matches.
United put in a meek display in Sunday’s 1-0 home loss to Manchester City, Carrick’s side failing to capitalise on Phil Foden’s early red card before conceding Erling Haaland’s controversial winner.
Pro Ref contacted United to acknowledge an “error of judgment” after the goal was allowed to stand despite offside Enzo Fernandez’s interference in the build-up not being properly checked.
“We’ve got to move on,” Carrick said of the contentious defeat. “We’ve still got to look at it for ourselves and we’ve got to win games.
“We have done, we’ve won a lot of games and we need to continue to do that.
“I understand it’s a new season, it’s a fresh season and the points tally right now is not what we want it to be, so I’m not hiding from that.
“But it’s more of getting winning games, getting that feeling, getting the habit. It’s easier said than done, of course it is, but we’re capable of it.”
United players on edge
United defender Lisandro Martinez called the derby decision “unacceptable” and an “injustice” – a feeling that Carrick wants his players to use as fuel on Wednesday.
“The players have got an edge,” he said. “I think they’ve shown that to me since I’ve been here. We’ve had setbacks and they’ve bounced back particularly well and had some really good performances and good results, so they’ve got an edge.
“It does give you something when something like that happens (on Sunday) to use moving forward.”
United will need that to overcome Brighton, who won 5-0 at Coventry on Sunday and have triumphed in four of their last five trips to Old Trafford in all competitions.
The most recent of those victories came in the FA Cup in January – the last game before Carrick took charge – and compounded their humiliating fall at the first hurdle of the Carabao Cup at Grimsby.
Carrick eyes a trophy
Nothing that happens on Wednesday can be worse than last August’s Blundell Park blunder, and the importance of progress is not lost on Carrick.
“For me, trophies is the beauty and the feeling of winning is what we’re in football for, what we’re in sport for, and certainly what I’m at this club for is to try and win,” the former United midfielder said.
“It’s not straightforward and you decide you want to win and you go and win. Of course not.
“But it’s important and I think trophies and achieving things and giving supporters that feeling of the emotion of that is important, definitely.”
