Carrick explains Amad Diallo’s absence in Manchester United’s opener against Hull City
By Luke Oluoch, August 22, 2026Manchester United boss Michael Carrick has explained the absence of Amad Diallo from the matchday squad against Hull City.
Diallo has not travelled with the Manchester United squad for the league opener against Hull City this Saturday, August 22, 2026. The gaffer revealed that he picked up a niggle at the end of the week in training, prompting his withdrawal from the first match of the season.
Carrick has instead named Patrick Dorgu and Bryan Mbeumo as the wingers for the Premier League opener in Yorkshire.
Picked a knock
The Red Devils coach remains confident, adding that the club’s medical team is assessing the situation and hopeful he will be back for their home opener.
“He just picked up a niggle right at the end of the week, in training,” he told MUTV. “We will assess that and see where he’s at.
This comes after Marcus Rashford was handed new jersey number for Manchester United’s 2026/27 season.
United will face another Premier League returnee in Ipswich Town, managed by Gary O’Neil, on Sunday, August 30, 2026, at Old Trafford.
Optimism
“Hopefully, it won’t be too long. He was looking sharp and obviously looking forward to the season,” he stated. “It is disappointing, but that is part of the game. We have a squad that can cope with it, so we have to keep moving forward and hope he joins the team soon.”
Following these two ties, United will await the real tests of Premier League opposition, with Everton and Manchester City up next.
No easy starts
Carrick has refuted claims that the club has an easy start to the league, stressing that there are no easy opponents:
“For all of us who know this league, there are no favourable starts,” he said. “It’s a tough start with both teams, and not looking past Saturday, a newly promoted team away from home is a tough game.”
“I have been involved in them in the past, so I’m fully aware of what’s at stake, what’s coming at us, and what we’ve got to be ready for. It’s not favourable. It’s an easy thing to throw out there, but it’s pretty ridiculous, and we’re not taking it that way at all.”
On whether Hull is a bit of an unknown entity after a busy summer, Carrick added, “That is the beauty of the new season. Certainly for teams coming up, for the most part, there are changes within the group. It’s always the challenge when playing against them.”
“There’s that freshness and buzz around the club coming into the Premier League and what that brings. We’re fully aware of that and we’ll be prepared… we know what the game is going to bring and how good we need to be to get a result.”