Carrick details Kobbie Mainoo injury scare as Man United fall to Leeds

Michael Carrick has shed light on Kobbie Mainoo’s unexpected absence after Manchester United slumped to a 2-1 home defeat against Leeds United, a result that ended a 44-year wait for the visitors at Old Trafford.

The midfielder was notably missing from the matchday squad despite having been a consistent presence in recent weeks.

His omission raised immediate concerns, particularly given his growing importance in United’s midfield and the club’s ongoing efforts to secure his long-term future.

Carrick moved quickly to clarify the situation before kickoff, revealing that the decision to leave Mainoo out was precautionary rather than indicative of a serious injury setback.

The 20-year-old, who completed the full 90 minutes in United’s previous outing against Bournemouth nearly a month ago, had also been involved during the recent international break with England national football team.

“Over the last day or so, Kobbie just had an issue in training,” Carrick told Sky Sports. “So it seems small but big enough to keep him out tonight. It wasn’t worth the risk, to be honest, so we’re hoping it’s pretty small and it won’t be too long.”

Mainoo’s recent workload has been notable. In addition to his club duties, he featured twice for England in March, coming off the bench in a 1-1 draw against Uruguay before starting in a narrow defeat to Japan.

The sequence of matches appeared to underline his increasing prominence at both club and international level, making his absence all the more significant.

His setback also comes at a delicate moment off the pitch, with Carrick recently confirming that discussions over a new contract are progressing positively. The club view Mainoo as a central figure in their long-term plans, and his development has been one of the few bright spots in an otherwise inconsistent campaign.

In his absence, Carrick turned to Manuel Ugarte, who was handed an opportunity to step into midfield. The Uruguayan has been gradually building momentum, having impressed in his previous appearance against Bournemouth before contributing on international duty.

“Manu comes in tonight. He came on and did well for us in the last game at Bournemouth and went away and played well for Uruguay so he’s well up to speed,” Carrick said.

“He’s been great in training and done great all the way through really and part of what we’ve done, even though it’s not obvious because Kobbie and Case have played a lot.”

Despite the reshuffle, United struggled to impose themselves, with Leeds capitalising to secure a historic victory. The defeat adds further pressure on Carrick, whose side have now dropped valuable points at a crucial stage of the season.