Carlos Baleba Ruled Out for Weeks as Manchester United Prepare for Aston Villa

Manchester United midfielder Carlos Baleba faces several weeks out with a hamstring injury and will miss the Premier League match against Aston Villa, Michael Carrick confirmed ahead of the weekend.

United’s official injury update said the Cameroon international was hurt during Tuesday’s 3–2 Champions League victory over Roma. Carrick made clear that the absence would extend beyond the forthcoming international break, although an exact return date has not been established.

Injury interrupts European comeback

According to the club’s account, Baleba pulled up after advancing into Roma’s penalty area shortly after half-time. He left the pitch with medical staff and was replaced by Youri Tielemans.

The setback came on an otherwise successful night for United, who recovered through a Bruno Fernandes penalty and two late Matheus Cunha goals. The result delivered a European win, but Baleba’s injury creates a separate problem as attention returns to domestic football.

Dorgu also remains a fitness question

Reuters reported that Patrick Dorgu remained doubtful for Sunday’s Villa fixture despite returning to training after his own hamstring problem. Carrick therefore has more than one fitness issue to consider before finalising his side.

A return to training can improve the options available to a coach without guaranteeing that a player is ready for a full competitive workload. United’s team selection will depend on those assessments rather than on the training return alone.

Busy run awaits after the break

The club lists a trip to Liverpool on 22 November, followed by Sporting on 25 November and Brentford on 28 November. Those fixtures underline why a precise assessment of Baleba’s recovery will matter once the international window ends.

For now, however, United have not confirmed which of those games he could be available for. Carrick’s statement establishes the immediate absence without committing the midfielder to an early comeback.

United’s priority is to carry the confidence from the Roma win into their league programme while adapting to the loss of a midfield option. Baleba’s progress will shape the longer-term selection picture; the Villa match must be planned without him.

Image: illustrative stadium from the HPW NEWS archive, 1024 × 576 pixels; not Old Trafford or a photograph of Baleba’s injury.