Michael Carrick Sparks Hope for Carlos Baleba's Long-Awaited Return to Action

Manchester United have been unable to field summer acquisition Carlos Baleba since completing a $94 million (£70 million) move from Brighton & Hove Albion, but the likelihood of the Cameroonian making his debut within the coming month is now considerably high.

Baleba was already nursing an ankle problem when he made the move from England's south coast to Manchester, having missed Brighton's entire preseason campaign. The expectation was that he would be fit after the first international break of the season, and that estimate appears to have proven accurate based on Michael Carrick's latest update.

Following several frustrating weeks of rehabilitation and solo work, Baleba is now on the verge of rejoining full training with his new teammates.

"He'll be back in and around the group at some point over the next week or so, so that means after [the] international [break], he should be in good shape," Carrick told reporters.

Baleba remains unavailable for the midweek clash against Brighton in the Carabao Cup at Old Trafford. He will also sit out United's trip to Fulham on Sunday, Sept. 20, the last fixture before the international calendar takes over.

It comes as little surprise that Baleba has been omitted from Cameroon's squad for the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Comoros and the Republic of the Congo. He will use that period to train and build his fitness in Manchester, with the aim of making his debut at the earliest opportunity.

"He's desperate to get out there, be part of the group and train fully with the boys," Carrick said.

When Will Baleba Make Man Utd Debut?

Manchester United's first fixture following the international break is against Tottenham Hotspur at Old Trafford on Oct. 10. By that point, Baleba will have had approximately three weeks of full-intensity training, benefiting from the unusually extended international window approved by FIFA.

This break is a combination of the standard September and October pauses, with certain national teams playing as many as four matches across the two-and-a-half-week period.

Carrick could certainly make use of Baleba, given that United face a relentless schedule in October leading into the November international break. Within a single month, they are set to play eight times — potentially nine should they beat Brighton this week and advance in the Carabao Cup.

Man Utd's Busy Schedule After International Break

Baleba Balances Man Utd Midfield

Baleba was regarded as the final component of Manchester United's midfield overhaul this summer — a more combative, defensively-minded player following the earlier signings of versatile midfielder Andrey Santos and creative distributor Youri Tielemans.

The 22-year-old had been on United's radar in 2025, but a price that would have made him only the fourth Premier League midfielder to command a fee of at least £100 million proved too steep. A year on, United managed to negotiate a far more financially palatable arrangement.

"He's obviously a quality player," Carrick said this week. "It's why we brought him here and he balances off the dynamics of the midfield particularly well."

Baleba is expected to be a regular starter in United's preferred midfield setup, especially in matches against formidable opponents where defensive solidity is paramount. Carrick may opt to leave him out in contests against lesser sides where United are expected to dominate possession, placing greater responsibility on his players to break down organized defenses.