Carrick Faces Squad Crisis as Key Defenders Battle Injuries Ahead of Newcastle Clash
Manchester United may face Wednesday's Premier League clash against Newcastle United without three-quarters of their preferred defensive lineup, following Michael Carrick's assessment of key defenders Harry Maguire and Luke Shaw's fitness status.
The pair were substituted during Saturday's victory over Crystal Palace after feeling unwell. Speaking on Tuesday, Carrick indicated that both Maguire and Shaw would receive "every opportunity" to feature against Newcastle. However, their participation remains uncertain, compounding the absence of Lisandro Martínez.
"We're pushing for it," Carrick informed the media regarding Maguire and Shaw's condition.
"They were under the weather [during the Crystal Palace game]. We still have some time before kickoff and we'll need to assess how they're feeling. We'll naturally give them every opportunity.
"It wasn't a physical injury, both simply weren't feeling well. These situations happen. We'll monitor their progress [through Tuesday] and [Wednesday] morning."
United have also been missing center-back Matthijs de Ligt since November, while Patrick Dorgu—a left-back alternative—isn't anticipated to return until late March or early April.
Currently, Diogo Dalot remains the sole regular defensive starter confirmed as available. Senne Lammens will maintain his position in goal, though the defensive unit ahead of him could look vastly different.
Maguire, Shaw Replacements vs. Newcastle
Maguire, Shaw Replacements vs. Newcastle
Should Maguire fail to recover, United could field an extremely youthful center-back partnership. Leny Yoro, who has deputized for Martínez in recent fixtures, alongside Ayden Heaven represent promising talents but are merely 20 and 19 years old respectively. Both players are still developing.
Should Shaw be unavailable, Noussair Mazraoui appears the logical substitute. The Moroccan defender is versatile enough to operate on either flank, as is Dalot, leaving questions about which side he might occupy in such circumstances.
Mazraoui directly replaced Shaw against Palace and featured on the left wing, though Dalot has previously been shifted from right to left to make room for him.
Ruben Amorim was managing when Mazraoui last started for United. The Moroccan was participating in the Africa Cup of Nations during the holiday period and is typically ranked below Shaw and Dalot in the fullback hierarchy.
Three Points Vital for Patched Man Utd
Three Points Vital for Patched Man Utd
Claiming victory would prove challenging should United approach the Newcastle fixture with a makeshift defense, yet securing all three points remains crucial for improving their Premier League position.
United climbed into the top three following the weekend results, leapfrogging Aston Villa after claiming six victories from seven matches since Carrick assumed interim control in January. Having occupied the lower half of the table for most of 2024–25, the club hasn't held third position since May 2023.
With a top-five finish likely sufficient for Champions League qualification—crucial for next season's financial planning—United currently hold a six-point advantage over sixth-placed Chelsea. The Blues face Aston Villa at Villa Park on Wednesday, with a stalemate being United's preferred outcome.
Liverpool, presently fifth and trailing by three points, take on Wolverhampton Wanderers on Tuesday evening. Despite Wolves showing recent improvement, expectations favor Arne Slot's defending champions securing a comfortable victory.