Baleba hamstring injury ‘doesn’t look great’ after Man Utd win, says Carrick

Manchester United manager Michael Carrick says Carlos Baleba’s hamstring injury “doesn’t look great” after the midfielder was forced off during his side’s dramatic 3-2 victory over Roma in the UEFA Champions League.

The Cameroon international went down early in the second half after pulling up while accelerating into an attacking move. He appeared distressed as he left the pitch, with United trailing 2-0 at the time.

Carrick confirmed after the match that Baleba, 22, had suffered a hamstring problem, although United do not yet know how serious the injury is.

“I haven’t got any more news on Carlos at this stage but it’s his hamstring,” Carrick said.

“We’ll have to assess what that looks like but, initially, it doesn’t look great.”

The injury was especially frustrating for Baleba, who was making his first start alongside Kobbie Mainoo. The midfield pairing had brought energy and quality to United’s performance before Baleba was forced to withdraw.

Youri Tielemans replaced him and quickly made an impact as United recovered from their two-goal deficit to claim a memorable victory at Old Trafford.

Carrick praised Tielemans for the way he responded to being introduced, highlighting both his performance and his readiness to contribute when called upon.

“I thought Youri stepped into the game and showed what he’s about, his personality and character stepping into the team,” Carrick said.

“He’s a top human being, I love having him around for everything that he brings,” he added.

Tielemans’ display could give him a chance to press for a starting place when United travel to face his former club Aston Villa on Sunday.

The match will also provide a deadline for Baleba’s recovery, with his availability now a concern ahead of the Premier League meeting. Tielemans, meanwhile, has strengthened his case for a recall after helping United turn the game around.

The win came despite Baleba’s early departure and United’s difficult position at half-time, with the midfielder having to watch from the sidelines after his brief first start alongside Mainoo.