Manchester United's Boosts: Sesko and Darlow Return Before Hull Clash

Manchester United head to the MKM Stadium on Saturday lunchtime with Michael Carrick juggling a familiar early‑season equation: one major long-term absentee, several close calls, and a couple of badly needed boosts.

A week on from a 4-2 defeat to Milan in Wroclaw that several senior players missed, Carrick used his pre-match press conference to sketch out a clearer picture before the Premier League curtain-raiser against Hull City.

Sesko back at last

The headline news is up front.

Benjamin Sesko, absent for the entirety of pre-season, is finally back in full training at Carrington after the shin injury that wrecked the end of his debut campaign in May.

He played through the problem for much of last season before aggravating it in the win over Liverpool at Old Trafford. That setback cut short his year and wiped out his summer preparation. Now, at last, he is back with the group.

“Ben [Sesko] is back training, so that's another positive,” Carrick said. “Looking forward to having him back around the group and getting him some minutes as well.”

Whether those minutes come from the start or off the bench remains to be seen, but United at least travel to Hull with their main striker available again.

Darlow steps up as Heaton waits

There is another significant return at the other end of the pitch.

Karl Darlow, a summer signing who has yet to make his United debut, has resumed full training after surgery at the end of last season. The former Leeds United goalkeeper played through to the expiry of his contract there and even turned out for Wales in early June before being sidelined.

With Radek Vitek leaving for Middlesbrough and Tom Heaton also out, the goalkeeping department has been stretched. Senne Lammens has started, with Dermot Mee drafted in to deputise on the bench.

Now Darlow is back in the frame.

“Karl has trained this week. He's back training, so he's in good shape,” Carrick confirmed, an update that puts the 33-year-old in strong contention to be among the substitutes at Hull.

That matters even more because Heaton’s situation has taken an unexpected turn.

The 40-year-old picked up what looked like a minor knock against Paris Saint-Germain a fortnight ago, when Mee replaced him with little apparent concern. The issue has proved more serious than first thought, and Heaton is now facing at least several weeks out.

The timing of Darlow’s return could hardly be better.

Ugarte the lone long-term absentee

One situation is clear-cut.

Manuel Ugarte will not be seen for some time.

The midfielder underwent knee ligament surgery after being injured while playing for Uruguay at this summer’s World Cup. United confirmed the operation went well and stressed he is now starting the rehabilitation phase, under close supervision from the club’s medical and performance staff.

Ugarte himself has already spoken of his determination to come back stronger, thanking Uruguay, United, his family, friends and supporters for their backing.

For Carrick, he is the one guaranteed long-term absentee as the new league campaign begins.

Mount ‘touch-and-go’

Mason Mount sits in the grey area between risk and reward.

The midfielder has been sidelined since suffering a foot injury in the 1-1 draw with PSG earlier this month, limping off just 20 minutes into the friendly in Gothenburg and making way for Tyler Fletcher.

He has missed both matches since. Andrey Santos started alongside Mount’s fellow summer signing against Leeds, with Youri Tielemans partnering Santos last weekend.

Carrick suggested Mount is close, but not certain, to feature at Hull.

“We are managing Mason [Mount] a little bit, but he's very close,” he said. “So it's touch-and-go for the weekend, really, if not going into next week.”

United may decide not to gamble on the opening day, but his return is clearly imminent.

De Ligt back on the grass, but not yet in the XI

At centre-back, there is cautious optimism.

Matthijs de Ligt is back in training after back surgery earlier this year, having missed the final six months of last season. His last appearance came in late November; the wait for the next one will go on a little longer.

“Matt [De Ligt] has obviously been out for a long period of time, but he's training and great to have him back,” Carrick said. “Well, he won't be involved, but he's in good shape and moving in a good direction, so that's really a good bonus for us, really, at this stage, to have him back.”

So De Ligt will not be involved at Hull, but his presence on the training pitch offers a significant boost for the weeks ahead.

Fine margins for the opener

So this is where United stand before the first whistle of 2026/27:

• Sesko back and ready for minutes.
• Darlow in full training and likely to bolster the bench.
• Mount close, but racing the clock.
• De Ligt training but not yet match-ready.
• Heaton out for weeks.
• Ugarte the one long-term casualty.

Carrick’s selection in Hull will be shaped by those medical bulletins. The bigger question is how quickly this patched-together group can turn returning bodies into early-season momentum in a league that rarely waits for anyone.