# Carlos Baleba's Manchester United debut delayed by ankle injury

> The 94 million pound midfielder is on track to play after the international break following his recovery from a pre-transfer ankle injury.
- Title: Carlos Baleba's Manchester United debut delayed by ankle…
- Summary: The 94 million pound midfielder is on track to play after the international break following his recovery from a pre-transfer ankle injury. Baleba should be…
- Keywords: carlos baleba, manchester united, brighton and hove albion, transfer, ankle injury, michael carrick, midfielder, premier league, cameroon, debut, sports, Carlos
- Source: SI — https://si.com/soccer/carlos-baleba-injury-update-delayed-debut-boost-michael-carrick
- Published: 2026-09-16T01:00:00+00:00
- Read time: 2 min
- Topics: carlos baleba, manchester united, brighton and hove albion, transfer, ankle injury, michael carrick, midfielder, premier league, cameroon, debut, sports
## 94 million pound signing sidelined
Carlos Baleba arrived at Manchester United from Brighton this summer but has been unable to play due to an ankle injury he carried into the transfer.
## Injury arrived with the player
Baleba was already dealing with an ankle problem when he left Brighton, forcing him to miss the club's entire preseason before joining Manchester United.
## Recovery timeline looks promising
After weeks of individual training, Baleba is close to joining full team sessions, with manager Michael Carrick confirming he should be ready after the international break.

> He'll be back in and around the group at some point over the next week or so, so that means after the international break, he should be in good shape.
## Missing next two matches
Baleba will sit out the midweek Carabao Cup match against Brighton and the trip to Fulham on September 20, the final game before the international pause.
## Cameroon gives him rest time
Baleba has been left out of Cameroon's Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, allowing him to stay in Manchester and build fitness during the international window.
## Player eager to get started
Carrick says Baleba is desperate to join full training and become part of the squad after weeks of individual recovery work.

> He's desperate to get out there, be part of the group and train fully with the boys.
## Tottenham could be debut stage
Manchester United's first match after the international break is against Tottenham on October 10, giving Baleba three weeks of full-intensity training.
## Extended break helps recovery
FIFA has combined the September and October international windows into one two-and-a-half week pause, giving Baleba extra time to prepare.
## Carrick needs him urgently
Manchester United faces a relentless October schedule with eight to nine matches in one month, making Baleba's return crucial for the midfield.
## Final piece of midfield puzzle
Baleba was signed as a defensive midfielder to balance the creative abilities of Youri Tielemans and Andrey Santos in United's rebuilt midfield.
## Better deal than last year
United targeted Baleba in 2025 but the 100 million pound price tag was too high. They negotiated a more acceptable deal this summer at 94 million pounds.
## Balances midfield dynamics
Carrick values Baleba's defensive presence to complement his other midfielders, particularly in matches against strong opponents where protection is needed.

> He's obviously a quality player. It's why we brought him here and he balances off the dynamics of the midfield particularly well.
## Key takeaway

Baleba should be ready to debut for Manchester United in early October after the international break, giving him three weeks of full training to build fitness.