Manchester United are set to welcome back three more players before travelling to Dublin on Sunday for a midweek pre-season friendly clash against Leeds at Croke Park.
The 2026 pre-season is well underway, with Manchester United having just three more games to play before the competitive campaign kicks off.
Michael Carrick has been welcoming back key players in stages due to the 2026 World Cup taking place earlier this summer. Many of the United players involved in the tournament were given extended leave.
The United head coach will be keen to have everyone back at Carrington to boost pre-season preparations.
Marcus Rashford set for Man Utd return and Dublin trip
United duo Marcus Rashford and Kobbie Mainoo are scheduled to report back to the club this weekend, ahead of a trip to Dublin where the Reds will take on rivals Leeds at Croke Park.
After missing out on a transfer to Barcelona earlier this summer, Rashford will return to United, but his future is still up in the air.
The 28-year-old hasn’t played for United since 2024 (over 600 days ago), but it is understood that he will travel to Dublin along with the rest of the squad.
It will be the first game United play in Dublin since 2023, although that match – a 1-1 draw against Athletic Bilbao – was held at the Aviva Stadium.
The return of Mainoo means Carrick will have more options in midfield, as well as a chance to see all of his midfielders training together before deciding his preferred central pairing following the departure of Casemiro and the arrivals of Andrey Santos and Youri Tielemans.
Meanwhile, Lisandro Martinez is also scheduled to report back to United in the coming days. It remains to be seen if the Argentina centre-back is still injured from the knock he sustained in a World Cup final defeat to Spain.
- ⚡️ KEY TAKEAWAYS
- Marcus Rashford, Kobbie Mainoo and Lisandro Martinez are scheduled to return to Manchester United in the coming days
- Rashford and Mainoo are expected to travel to Dublin for the pre-season friendly vs Leeds
- United have yet to provide an update on Martinez’s fitness ahead of the new season, after the centre-back picked up an injury in the World Cup final
Marcus Rashford and Kobbie Mainoo missed Man Utd’s previous trip to Dublin
Neither Rashford nor Mainoo played in United’s 2023 friendly against Athletic Bilbao in Dublin.
They both played the day before at Old Trafford in a 3-1 win against Lens, with Rashford getting on the scoresheet.
United fans in attendance were unhappy that Erik ten Hag fielded a weakened team for the match after paying a high cost for the tickets.
Those same fans will be hoping to see Carrick name a stronger line-up next week.
from United In Focus https://ift.tt/uBfDtQl