Manchester United without Šeško and Dorgu, Mazraoui also not ready: Van de Ven and Van Hecke return for Tottenham
Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur resume their English Premier League campaigns on Saturday, October 10, 2026, with a match at Old Trafford, and the latest injury news has brought contrasting messages for their managers. Michael Carrick confirmed that striker Benjamin Šeško will not be fit for the match, while Patrick Dorgu faces several weeks on the sidelines due to a muscle injury. Noussair Mazraoui is also a concern, having returned from international duty without fully recovering, and he is not expected to feature. On the other hand, Tottenham manager Roberto De Zerbi announced that Dutch centre-backs Micky van de Ven and Jan Paul van Hecke are available despite experiencing fitness problems during the international break. The sixth-round fixture kicks off at 17:30 British Summer Time, or 16:30 UTC.
The match comes at a delicate moment for both clubs. According to Premier League figures, Manchester United have collected five points from their opening five league matches, while Tottenham, with just two points, are still waiting for their first victory. Although many matches remain before the end of the season, the results so far have increased the pressure on the coaching staffs. The three-week international break provided time for training and adjustments, but it also increased uncertainty surrounding the players' physical condition. As a result, preparations for the match in Manchester have largely become an assessment of who can cope with the competitive demands and who will have to remain out of the squad.
Šeško remains sidelined with a lower-leg problem
Manchester United's most significant attacking absentee is Benjamin Šeško. The Slovenia international is still feeling the effects of a lower-leg problem that had been affecting his performances even before the October break. According to Manchester United's announcement following Carrick's press conference, the striker is currently further away from a return than some of his teammates who have been following individual training programmes. Carrick explicitly confirmed that Šeško will not be ready to face Tottenham but did not announce a date for his return to action. Šeško also missed the previous league match against Fulham, which ended in a 1-1 draw, because of the same problem.
Šeško's absence means more than simply losing another option in the final third. His physical presence, ability to attack space and play inside the penalty area give Carrick a different type of striker from those offered by the other available players. Without him, Manchester United must distribute roles more carefully among Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo and the other attacking players, particularly when looking to create chances more quickly. In its preview of the sixth round, the Premier League suggests that Cunha could once again lead the attack, although this is a projection rather than a confirmed starting lineup. The final decision on the attacking setup will also depend on how well the other players have recovered during the latest training sessions.
Dorgu facing several weeks out, Mazraoui adds another concern
The situation involving Patrick Dorgu is particularly unfavourable because his injury will have consequences beyond the match against Tottenham. The Denmark international injured his hamstring while playing for his national team, and Carrick confirmed that he will be unavailable for several weeks. This assessment means that Manchester United must find a solution not only for Saturday's encounter but also for part of the demanding schedule ahead. Dorgu's absence reduces the options in wide positions and the team's ability to change the tempo and width of its play during matches. This is especially important against an opponent that seeks to build attacks through possession and demands constant concentration during defensive transitions.
Noussair Mazraoui presents an additional problem after suffering a knock while playing for Morocco. In the club's official announcement, Carrick emphasised that the defender is still not completely fit and that his condition will continue to be assessed, without providing a more detailed prediction regarding his recovery time. According to information published by the specialised sports service RotoWire, Mazraoui will not be available for the match against Tottenham. His absence, together with Dorgu's, further limits the options at full-back. Diogo Dalot and Luke Shaw could therefore have particularly important roles in defence and in helping the team move forward, although Carrick has not yet confirmed his lineup.
United nevertheless gain options in midfield and attack
Despite the problems involving three players, the news from Manchester United's training centre is not entirely negative. Carrick confirmed that Marcus Rashford, Kobbie Mainoo and Amad participated in parts of training, opening up the possibility of their return to the squad. Rashford and Mainoo had previously withdrawn from international duty, but their return to training with the team suggests progress in their recovery. This does not, however, mean that each of them is ready to play the full 90 minutes or that they will automatically start the match. The manager will have to balance medical recommendations against the need to stabilise results as quickly as possible.
Carlos Baleba, the midfielder who arrived from Brighton during the summer but is still awaiting his official Manchester United debut, is attracting particular attention. According to the club's announcement, Baleba was an unused substitute against Fulham and subsequently featured in a behind-closed-doors friendly against Lausanne-Sport. Carrick reported that he is progressing and has completed a considerable number of training sessions, raising the possibility of his first appearance. In midfield, however, Manuel Ugarte remains unavailable as he recovers from knee surgery. Baleba's potential inclusion in the team is therefore significant, but expectations must be distinguished from the fact that the manager has not yet announced whether he will play.
Van de Ven and Van Hecke available to play for Tottenham after all
Unlike the hosts, Tottenham received two extremely important confirmations concerning the centre of their defence shortly before travelling to Manchester. Micky van de Ven and Jan Paul van Hecke returned from international duty with injuries that had cast doubt on their availability at Old Trafford. According to the London club's official statement, Van Hecke left the Netherlands camp early after suffering a knock during international matches. Van de Ven, who is also Tottenham's captain, injured his hand towards the end of his most recent international appearance against Serbia. Despite these problems, De Zerbi confirmed at his October 9 press conference that both players are available.
Their availability does not necessarily mean that both will be in the starting lineup, but it restores an important tactical option for the manager. Van de Ven's pace allows him to cover space behind the defensive line, while Van Hecke brings quality in passing and carrying the ball out from the back. These are precisely the characteristics that matter in De Zerbi's style of play, in which much of the organisation of attacks relies on defensive players. Developing their partnership is particularly significant because Van Hecke joined Tottenham from Brighton in June 2026, having already worked with the Italian manager there. When announcing his arrival, the London club highlighted his Premier League and Netherlands international experience as important reasons for the transfer.
De Zerbi also pointed out a circumstance unrelated to injury. Van Hecke's wife gave birth to twins on October 8, meaning the manager must also take this family occasion into account when deciding on his role. This information does not call the defender's medical availability into question, but it means that the final decision on his playing time cannot be based solely on medical assessments. For a team that has struggled with results in recent weeks, maintaining a stable central defensive partnership could be as important as individual quality. Tottenham now at least have the option of retaining the pair who have emerged as one of the solutions in central defence.
Porro and Mudryk ruled out, Maddison available
The positive news concerning the Dutch defenders does not mean that Tottenham have resolved all their squad problems. De Zerbi confirmed that Pedro Porro and Mykhailo Mudryk are not fit for the match in Manchester. Porro injured his hamstring during the league defeat to Aston Villa on September 19, while Mudryk has been recovering from an ankle injury sustained earlier. The Italian manager expects Porro could return sooner, while Mudryk's recovery may take longer, but he did not provide precise timelines. Their absences are significant because they reduce the available options on the right flank and in the attacking rotation.
Tottenham's official report also states that Xavi Simons, Wilson Odobert and Dejan Kulusevski remain unavailable due to longer-term fitness problems. Kulusevski is gradually returning to training with the team, and De Zerbi confirmed that he will travel to Manchester with his teammates, as will Porro. However, travelling with the squad does not mean he will be ready to play: his return is still being assessed on a week-by-week basis. The better news concerns James Maddison, whom the manager declared available despite his having missed several days of training because of minor problems. Consequently, it is not certain that he will start the match, while Conor Gallagher remains one of the options for a more attacking midfield role.
Both teams seek a turnaround after a poor start to the season
The significance of Saturday's match goes beyond the usual battle for three points. According to an analysis published on the Premier League's official website, Manchester United have collected just five points from five matches, equalling their worst return at this stage of a season since Alex Ferguson's departure. Michael Carrick's team have recorded one league victory, while their last appearance before the international break ended in a draw against Fulham. Although United are ahead of Tottenham, the gap between their results and their ambitions has already become a talking point ahead of the resumption of league action. The home fixture therefore represents an opportunity to change the mood, but also a test of how successfully the earlier problems have been addressed during the break.
Tottenham arrive in Manchester with an even more modest record. They have two points after five matches, having failed to score in their first four league appearances. That run ended on September 19 against Aston Villa, but goals from Gallagher and Van Hecke were not enough to prevent a 3-2 home defeat. According to the Premier League, Tottenham face the possibility of going without a victory in their first six league matches for the first time since the 2008/09 season. De Zerbi admitted that the defeat against Villa was difficult for the team to accept and that finding an answer to the poor results was the most important task during the break.
This context increases the value of the news about the return of the two centre-backs, but it does not solve Tottenham's finishing problem. Ahead of the encounter, De Zerbi stressed that his team are reaching dangerous areas but are not converting enough chances into goals. For that reason, discussion of the lineup cannot stop with the defence: Maddison's availability, the positioning of the attacking players and the choice of options behind the central striker are equally important. The manager singled out as a positive the work of players who remained at the club during the break, including Dominic Solanke, Mohammed Kudus, Savio and Conor Gallagher. At the same time, he warned about the workload of international players who had played several matches and undertaken long journeys.
Where could the match be decided?
Decisions regarding the starting lineups could significantly influence the balance of power on the pitch. Manchester United must find a balance between taking the attacking initiative at Old Trafford and protecting the wide areas, particularly if both Dorgu and Mazraoui are absent. With Van de Ven and Van Hecke available, Tottenham have better conditions for building organised attacks from the back, but they will have to adjust their right flank without Porro. In its preview, the Premier League names Archie Gray as a possible replacement for the Spanish defender, while noting that the starting lineups have not yet been confirmed. Battles on the flanks could therefore be just as important as the contest between the central midfielders.
At Manchester United, the connection between Bruno Fernandes and the players finishing attacks will also be crucial. If Cunha plays as the most advanced striker, the hosts will have to find a different way of exploiting space than they would with Šeško. The return of Rashford or Amad would expand Carrick's options, but placing excessive demands too soon on players recovering from fitness problems would bring additional risks. Tottenham, meanwhile, must decide how high to position their defensive line and how to maintain security when possession is lost. The presence of Van de Ven and Van Hecke reduces some of those uncertainties, but it does not in itself guarantee success against opponents determined to make use of their home advantage.
The last meeting at Old Trafford went United's way
The match also has an interesting competitive background. In the most recent league meeting between these clubs at Old Trafford, on February 7, 2026, Manchester United defeated Tottenham 2-0 with goals from Bryan Mbeumo and Bruno Fernandes. According to the Premier League's official match report, Tottenham played most of the match with ten men after Cristian Romero was sent off in the 29th minute. That result was part of United's successful period following Carrick's arrival as manager, but their current form shows how much circumstances can change in just a few months. In the first league meeting between the teams in the previous season, in November 2025, they drew 2-2 in London.
The schedule following Saturday further emphasises the importance of managing injuries. Manchester United are due to visit Atlético Madrid in the Champions League on October 13, followed by a league match against Leeds United on October 18. Tottenham will host Coventry City on October 19, before facing London derbies against Chelsea and Crystal Palace. Dorgu's announced absence of several weeks is therefore a particularly sensitive issue for Carrick, while De Zerbi will seek to avoid placing additional strain on defensive players who have only just returned from international duty. The final lineups will show how the positive and negative news from medical assessments translate into concrete decisions for a match that could give both clubs a much-needed boost in results.
Sources:
- Manchester United – Carrick's updates on the fitness of Šeško, Dorgu, Mazraoui and other players (link)
- Tottenham Hotspur – official confirmation of Van de Ven's and Van Hecke's availability and the absences of Porro and Mudryk (link)
- Tottenham Hotspur – Roberto De Zerbi's press conference on injuries, Maddison and match preparations (link)
- Tottenham Hotspur – information on Dejan Kulusevski's recovery and status (link)
- Premier League – preview of possible lineups and the latest squad news for the sixth round (link)
- Premier League – analysis of the start of the season and the significance of the match in terms of results (link)
- Tottenham Hotspur – announcement of Jan Paul van Hecke's transfer from Brighton (link)
- Tottenham Hotspur – report on the 3-2 defeat to Aston Villa (link)
- Premier League – report on the Manchester United vs Tottenham match of February 7, 2026 (link)
- Premier League – official fixture schedule for October 2026 (link)
- Manchester United – first-team fixture schedule and the away match against Atlético Madrid on October 13 (link)
- RotoWire – Noussair Mazraoui's injury status ahead of the match against Tottenham (link)