The Manchester derby at Old Trafford is not a clash shaped by six major returns. The most reliable team news indicates that Manchester United will still be without Amad Diallo, Matthijs de Ligt, Carlos Baleba, Manuel Ugarte and Tom Heaton, while Manchester City are expected to have Nico O’Reilly available but remain without Jérémy Doku.
United’s attacking picture is more positive for Bryan Mbeumo, who is expected to start on the right, with Bruno Fernandes operating as the No. 10 and either Matheus Cunha or Benjamin Šeško leading the line. Marcus Rashford is also expected to be available after being rested for the midweek Champions League match against Sabah, though Carrick must decide whether he starts from the left or begins on the bench.
Amad, however, has not returned to training for selection. He is recovering from an ankle or muscle issue, depending on the report, and is expected to remain unavailable until later in September or potentially October. The claim that he returned to Carrington on Wednesday and will bolster United’s options for the derby is therefore not supported by the latest reporting.
De Ligt is also ruled out after back surgery and has not played since last November. Luke Shaw is the principal late fitness concern for Carrick: he missed the Sabah fixture after a thigh problem and is expected to face a final assessment before the derby.
Carrick is not taking charge of his first match as interim manager. He was appointed on a permanent basis after leading United to third place last season, and this will be his second Manchester derby as head coach. United beat City 2–0 at Old Trafford in the corresponding fixture last January, with goals from Mbeumo and Patrick Dorgu.
Manchester City’s situation is considerably healthier than the draft suggests. Doku is the only firm senior absentee with a calf injury, while O’Reilly has recovered from the back issue that forced him to withdraw before the Coventry match and is available. Rúben Dias, Josko Gvardiol, Marc Guéhi, Erling Haaland, Elliot Anderson and Rayan Cherki are all expected to be available for Enzo Maresca.
Maresca will take charge of his first Manchester derby with City top of the Premier League and holding a 100% league record. His expected shape is a 4–2–3–1, likely featuring Anderson and Enzo Fernández in midfield, Cherki between the lines, and Haaland as the central striker.
The key tactical question is whether United can protect a depleted midfield against City’s control while retaining enough attacking threat on the break. With Baleba and Ugarte unavailable, Kobbie Mainoo and Youri Tielemans are likely to form United’s central pairing behind Fernandes. City will look to dominate the ball through Anderson and Fernández, while United’s best route may be the pace and directness of Mbeumo, Rashford and Cunha or Šeško in transition.
The Premier League fixture kicks off at 4:30pm BST on Sunday, September 13, 2026, at Old Trafford.
