Manchester United, Michael Carrick, Matthijs de Ligt and Noussair Mazraoui
17 October 2026
Manchester United have received a defensive boost ahead of their Premier League meeting with Leeds United, with Matthijs de Ligt returning to the matchday squad and Noussair Mazraoui progressing towards availability after injury setbacks.
Carrick confirmed that De Ligt has resumed squad involvement after an extended absence and is rebuilding match fitness. Mazraoui has also returned to training, although Carrick indicated that his participation remains dependent on his progress. The manager praised youngster Ayden Heaven’s recent performance against Atletico Madrid and highlighted the importance of additional defensive options.