Michael Carrick and Manchester United received a warm welcome ahead of their Premier League clash with Tottenham.
Tottenham Hotspur return to Premier League action next weekend when they visit Manchester United. Roberto De Zerbi’s side have drawn two and lost three of their five league games so far this season, finishing bottom of the table.
Man Utd have only won once so it should make for a tight encounter at Old Trafford. Michael Carrick has been given a boost ahead of Saturday’s clash as he could call up a player for the first time.
Carlos Baleba signed from Brighton in a £70m deal in August but missed a competitive game against the Seagulls due to an ankle injury picked up in pre-season.
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The 22-year-old was benched for the 1-1 draw at Fulham just before the international break and has continued to work towards full fitness at the club’s Carrington training complex.
The midfielder actually played his first minutes in a Manchester United shirt in a closed-door friendly on Friday. Baleba took part in a friendly with Swiss side Lausanne-Sport alongside his first team mates including Harry Maguire and Matheus Cunha.
Friday’s game against United’s sister club Lausanne was an important milestone in Baleba’s return to fitness, with the Cameroon international undergoing a special training program over the past few weeks.
The game, which United won 2-1, featured a number of youngsters as most of the first-team stars were on international duty. Carrick’s son Jacey starred alongside Amir Ibrahimov, Yuel Helafu and Victor Musa. Diego Leon and Enzo Kana-Biyik were also given minutes.
Carrick recently told the club’s media that Baleba is “trying to get back as soon as possible” from injury and he looks set to play for United against Tottenham on Saturday.
De Zerbi is sweating in the physical training of the two players before the clash with the “red devils”. Jan Paul van Hecke He suffered a toe injury on international duty with the Netherlands this week, the extent of which is being assessed.
Says Kulusevski He is closing in on a return to the matchday squad after more than 500 game days and has continued to train with his team-mates at Hotspur Way this week. The Swede has been out since May last year after suffering a serious patella injury in his right knee, but is now close to returning.
De Zerbi will provide an update on Van Hecke and Kulusevski ahead of next week’s clash with Man Utd, and all at Tottenham will be hoping the pair are fit enough to make the matchday squad.