Mainoo and Shaw out as United face Atlético without two starters

Manchester United will face Atlético Madrid without Kobbie Mainoo and Luke Shaw after both picked up issues against Tottenham, leaving Michael Carrick to prepare for a demanding Champions League test without the pair.

Neither player travelled to Madrid for Tuesday’s match. Carrick said they were still being assessed after Saturday’s game and were not ready to play. “They’ve not travelled,” he said. “At the moment, they are not ready for the game tomorrow.”

The absences come during a difficult stretch for United. They opened their European campaign with a 4-0 win over Sabah, but have since gone four games without a victory. Their latest result was a draw against ten-man Tottenham, adding to scrutiny of Carrick less than six months after he took the job on a full-time basis.

Carrick said the missing players would not leave him short of options. “We’ve got a couple of issues with some players missing out but we’re definitely not light on numbers,” he said. He also welcomed young defender Dan Armer’s involvement, saying it would give him a chance to experience the build-up and “get a sense of it”.

Matthijs de Ligt has returned to the group, but his fitness remains in question. Carrick said United had been patient with the defender and were “delighted to have him back” after what he described as a long journey. His return gives United another option around the squad, though Carrick has not said whether he is ready to feature against Atlético.

The match is United’s second in this season’s Champions League. Atlético will test a side seeking a response after four games without a win, and Carrick must do so without Mainoo and Shaw. United are also 13th in the Premier League, with six points from six matches, before turning to their next league fixture away to Leeds United on Sunday, 18 October.