Manchester United's match against Brentford: Yoro likely to return, but may be a substitute! Red Devils' Bell return time confirmed

Manchester United manager Carrick disclosed that 20-year-old center-back Lenny Yoro is likely to return in the upcoming Monday home fixture against Brentford. At that time, Harry Maguire will also be back from his suspension, resolving the team's defensive shortage. Moreover, Danish international Patrick Doku, while unable to play in this game, is close to making a comeback.

Yoro sustained a hip injury last week, leading to his absence from United's visit to Chelsea. He has not yet resumed full training, but Carrick hopes he can feature against the "Bees." The Red Devils have overcome their defensive crisis; last round, Carrick had only 19-year-old Eden Haven as a fit center-back, forcing right-back Mazraoui to fill in as a partner.

With the help of the Stamford Bridge goalposts, United secured a 1-0 shutout victory over Chelsea. Now, Carrick can at least field a complete defensive line. Maguire's suspension has ended, and although Lisandro Martinez remains banned for two more matches, the number of center-backs is no longer insufficient.

While Haven and Maguire are expected to start as the central defenders, Carrick still hopes for Yoro's recovery to add depth to the squad. "We are still working on it, so he might return, but it's not 100% certain at this moment. Honestly, the team is generally fine; players just have minor injuries or issues, like leaving the pitch midway, which is expected," Carrick said.

Dutch center-back Matthijs de Ligt will continue to be sidelined, with increasing likelihood of missing the rest of the season due to a back injury. As a precaution, United's 21-year-old defensive prospect Sonny Aljofree joined first-team training on Thursday to prepare for the Brentford match. The senior squad also includes young players Shay Lacey, Jack Moorhouse, and the Fletcher brothers, Tyler and Jack.

Furthermore, United forward Cunha, who scored the winning goal against Chelsea, experienced discomfort when substituted and did not train on Thursday. However, he is still considered available for the Brentford game; the Brazilian international was assigned individual recovery training.

Doku has been unable to return since suffering a hamstring strain after scoring against Arsenal in January. After three months of treatment, he is about to resume team training and will play for United again next month. In the final month of the season, United have four matches, with the first being crucial: hosting Liverpool at Old Trafford, where a win could secure a Champions League spot.

Carrick explained: "Patrick (Doku) is working hard to recover. I don't want to rush things, but he has made good progress and is getting closer to training with the team. So, it's a positive sign and good news."

Aside from the team aiming to secure Champions League qualification, on an individual level, United captain Bruno Fernandes has 18 Premier League assists, just two away from breaking a record, which is also one of the targets the Red Devils will strive to achieve.

Regarding how 31-year-old B. Fernandes is performing at his season-best level, Carrick stated: "I personally believe you need to give Bruno a platform to express his qualities like any other player. We are trying to build a team structure that truly brings out the best in everyone. Of course, there are constraints sometimes, and everyone must make certain sacrifices for the team's benefit."

Carrick continued: "I enjoy seeing Bruno freely operate in attacking areas. He clearly has team spirit and carries significant responsibility; I think he's playing very well. Especially last Saturday, his contributions off the ball and defensively were notable. So, he has big responsibilities, but you must trust him. He is an excellent player with broad vision, strong creativity, and intelligence. He is a crucial part of the team with substantial influence. Often, it's about trust and effort, placing him in the right position to maximize his impact."

What impresses Carrick most about B. Fernandes? He replied: "I've known Bruno for a long time; I worked with him when he first arrived, so his performance doesn't surprise me at all. I know very well what he can bring. Over time, you keep improving and gaining more experience, which helps. And surely you've seen he is progressing positively. His influence is strong, his role significant, his form excellent, and we are very pleased with that."