Manchester United injury update: Shaw, Baleba and De Ligt latest return dates

According to a report by the Evening Standard on Monday, September 14, Manchester United are continuing to assess several players who are currently recovering from injuries as the club prepares for its Carabao Cup encounter with Brighton. Luke Shaw, Carlos Baleba and Matthijs de Ligt are all edging closer to a return.

Shaw suffered a problem during United's 2-2 draw with Everton on September 6. The injury ruled him out of the Manchester derby, although the issue is believed to be relatively minor.

Michael Carrick previously indicated that Shaw was close to becoming available again before the international break. The defender could now have a chance of featuring against Brighton on September 16, although a return against Fulham could also be possible depending on his fitness.

Baleba continues to recover from an ankle ligament injury picked up during United's pre-season fixture against Strasbourg in August. The £70 million summer signing from Brighton has not yet been able to make his competitive debut for the club.

Carrick had suggested that the midfielder could be sidelined for approximately two or three weeks. However, his recovery appears to have taken longer than initially expected, making a return against his former club Brighton unlikely. A possible comeback could instead come in October, with the Tottenham fixture on October 10 being considered.

De Ligt is also making progress after undergoing back surgery in May. There was some concern when he missed a training session, but the club later confirmed that he had been given a planned rest day rather than suffering another injury.

Carrick is still being careful with the Netherlands international and will assess his condition before deciding when he can return. De Ligt could potentially feature against Brighton or Fulham if his rehabilitation continues without complications.

Elsewhere, Amad Diallo remains unavailable because of an ankle problem. Ugarte is facing a longer period on the sidelines after sustaining a ligament injury while representing Uruguay, while goalkeeper Tom Heaton is also recovering from a hamstring problem.