Mbaye's limp after the match worries Carrick, giving Shashko a chance to start! Manchester United’s Foden is already sidelined

Manchester United claimed a 2-0 home win over Tottenham on Saturday, breaking an eight-match winless run against this opponent. Under Carrick’s management, the team has now won four straight games, indicating progress. Still, injuries might pose a problem as the squad’s number of injured players has increased, with Mbaye, who scored in the match, leaving Old Trafford limping.

Mbaye scored the opening goal in this match, and since Carrick became manager, he has contributed three goals in four games, reaching double digits in all competitions and leading the team. This £71 million signing is undoubtedly a key player, and Carrick has consistently deployed him as a central striker.

However, Manchester United fans captured Mbaye limping noticeably on his right leg as he left the Theatre of Dreams after the game. United face West Ham away on Tuesday evening, leaving very little time for Mbaye to recover — just two days. With a day off on Sunday, Carrick hopes Mbaye’s issue is only muscle fatigue.

Fortunately, after the match, Mbaye gave an interview to the official broadcast channel, and neither he nor Carrick mentioned any injury concerns, suggesting it might be just mild discomfort.

Last season, Mbaye was a “iron man” at Brentford, starting every game and only being substituted once for three minutes. It’s worth noting that before Tottenham captain Cristian Romero was sent off for stepping on Casemiro, he collided with Mbaye, hitting the back of the Cameroonian winger’s right leg with his knee, which could explain Mbaye’s walking discomfort.

If Mbaye needs to rest against West Ham, the €85 million striker Shashko might get a chance to start. Shashko has scored four goals since Ruben Amorim’s departure but hasn’t started any of Carrick’s first four games in charge. The match against West Ham could be his opportunity.

In fact, Manchester United already have a right winger out due to injury. In the match against Tottenham, 18-year-old academy midfielder Tyler Fletcher made his debut as a substitute, playing for six minutes. One of the twin sons of club legend Darren Fletcher, he became the 258th academy graduate to represent United’s first team.

Tyler Fletcher was included in the squad mainly because 18-year-old forward Shea Lacey is injured. Known as the "Manchester United Phil Foden," Lacey scored a hat-trick in the U21s' 5-1 win over West Brom this week but was absent from both the weekend first-team and U21 squads. Sources confirmed Lacey has a calf injury, forcing him to miss matches.

Initial examinations indicate the injury is not severe, but Lacey still requires a few weeks of rest before returning to training and matches. Manchester United are cautious given Lacey’s history of injuries over the past two years, including a thigh muscle tear that sidelined him for 162 days.

United already have three injured players: De Ligt, Patrick Dogu, and Mason Mount. Carrick hopes the £60 million midfielder Mount will return for Tuesday’s game against West Ham. After that match, United will have over ten days without fixtures, allowing players to rest and recover.

Carrick said: "We have a game on Tuesday, then a gap before the away match at Everton. We must manage the rhythm of our games because it’s crucial; sometimes a good rhythm can be an advantage. But the schedule can also cause fatigue, affecting performance. I think we just need to focus on the immediate game; Tuesday’s match is equally important. Playing away at West Ham is tough, and afterwards, we will reset, recover, and rest to prepare for upcoming matches."