Champions League: Carrick provides update on Luke Shaw’s absence from Manchester United’s win over Sabah
By Luke Oluoch, September 11, 2026Michael Carrick has given an update on the fitness of left-back Luke Shaw, who missed Manchester United’s victory over Sabah FK.
The defender was not named in the starting lineup for the Thursday, September 10, 2026, fixture, as United marked their UEFA Champions League return with a comfortable 4-0 win over the club, with Carrick instead selecting Patrick Dorgu to start at left-back.
Speaking before Thursday evening’s game, the manager explained, “It is a little bit of that [managing him]. He came off the other day at Everton with a little bit of cramp.”
He assured that the move was purely precautionary, as the club did not want to take any risks with his fitness.
“We did not want to take any risks really. We tried to manage him, so we will see how he is after this one.”
Dorgu shines
The Dane enjoyed a standout evening, teeing up Matheus Cunha for the Red Devils’ opener while helping the side secure their first clean sheet of the campaign. He was also named the UEFA Player of the Match.
With Shaw’s availability to be determined ahead of the Manchester derby on Sunday, September 13, 2026, the English club could be facing the exact defensive crisis predicted by club legend Gary Neville.
Neville on United staring at crisis
Earlier this month, Neville warned that United could be left short at the back if injuries struck key players.
“Michael, post-transfer deadline day, admitted he wanted to make more defensive signings. If Luke Shaw is to get injured—which he is so used to as the season progresses—or he comes under pressure, or Harry Maguire gets injured, then you look at what is left; they will be in real trouble.
Plenty of games to play
“The team playing right now is United’s best eleven. If that remains on the pitch, it is fine, but they have so much football to play and they have left themselves short in defence,” he said on Saturday, September 6, 2026.
Carrick’s proactive rotation—which saw fellow youngster Harry Amass handed a late cameo off the bench at left-back—highlights how the squad is bracing for the potential absence of the veteran defender.