Matthijs de Ligt is still some way off returning from a back injury for Manchester United with head coach Michael Carrick expecting Mason Mount back in action before the Netherlands defender.
De Ligt last played at Crystal Palace at the end of November and has missed the last 12 games despite initially only being ruled out for a short period.
Mount came on as an 89th minute substitute in Carrick’s first game against Manchester City, but has missed the next two games against Arsenal and Fulham.
However, the United boss was unable to put a timeline on de Ligt’s return with Mount more likely to be available for selection. However, he is set to miss Saturday’s clash with Tottenham at Old Trafford.
‘Mason (will be back) sooner,’ said Carrick. ‘He’s not too far away. We’re hopeful it won’t be too long. Matta is working his way back, taking his steps and improving and being really positive.’
Carrick has made a flying start after winning his first three games in charge since replacing Ruben Amorim and caretaker Darren Fletcher, and believes the tough introduction has helped to focus his players on the job in hand.
Manchester United manager Michael Carrick has given a concerning injury update on Matthijs de Ligt (pictured)
‘Coming in at the start and the games so quickly, it was kind of step by step,’ he added. ‘I wasn’t looking too far ahead. The first two games were standout and we expected a tough start. In some ways that helped get the whole group focused and alive.
‘Over time, we got a vague idea of what we wanted to look like and since we’ve been here that becomes a lot clearer of what direction we want to go in and how we want to play. We’ve got a lot of growth in the team and squad.’
Carrick’s fourth game against Tottenham pits him against Thomas Frank, having sat down with the Spurs boss earlier this season for an interview on Amazon Prime.
‘It (football) certainly can change,’ added the former Spurs midfielder. ‘I really enjoyed it, and we got on really well. It was the first time I’d met him properly, and it was good to chat about football things. He was really accommodating, so it will be good to see him again.’
Reflecting on his £18.6million move to United from Tottenham in the summer of 2006, Carrick said: ‘I’ve got really good memories of Tottenham. I was there for what feels like a short time, but really enjoyed it.
‘Coming here was a big jump and I felt that pretty quickly. Once you step inside this place as a footballer it turns you; from the first day walking into the dressing-room and meeting the manager, that was me.’
