Michael Carrick and Manchester United face a key week with Baleba watch

Michael Carrick faces a defining stretch on the Manchester United bench with the pressure on to win over critics as Carlos Baleba is positioned as a possible midfield game-changer. Sky Sports frames the weekend return to the Premier League as another big test, with the sense that another poor result away could quickly spark questions about whether Carrick is the right man.

October, a constant test

United’s run starts at home against a Tottenham side that is winless. After that come away games at Atletico Madrid, Leeds United and Como, with the month ending against Bournemouth and Chelsea.

Carrick has pointed to a run of unfortunate events behind the club’s slow start, and he has been more reluctant than usual to go deep into the team’s underperformance in his media duties. He will hope the international break has given his squad the boost they need, and that Baleba’s return helps stabilise things in midfield.