# Carlos Baleba Sidelined Until December Following Hamstring Injury Manchester United midfielder faces extended recovery after suffering injury during Champions League match. - **Source:** [Metro UK](https://metro.co.uk) - **Published:** 2026-11-06 - **Topic:** [sports](https://brifing.si/c/sports) - **Original article:** - **On Brifing:** https://brifing.si/s/6fc01d9f-f2c4-45f6-a35c-b3f4e7a10dc5 ## Injury Timeline Confirmed Manchester United midfielder Carlos Baleba is set for an extended period on the sidelines following a hamstring injury. Manager Michael Carrick confirmed the summer signing will not return to action until at least December. The injury occurred during the second half of Tuesday’s Champions League fixture against Italian side Roma. ## Match Incident Details The injury happened when Baleba made a sudden, bursting run into the penalty box. As he prepared to shoot, he pulled up sharply, clearly in significant physical discomfort. He was visibly emotional, appearing in tears as he limped off the Old Trafford pitch, signaling the severity of the muscle strain sustained. ## Previous Injury Context This setback marks a difficult start to Baleba’s tenure at Manchester United. The former Brighton player had already missed the opening five games of the current campaign. That initial absence was caused by an ankle injury suffered during pre-season training, further complicating his integration into the squad under the current management. ## Forthcoming Fixture Impact Carrick confirmed that Baleba will miss the upcoming match against Aston Villa this Sunday. Furthermore, the midfielder is ruled out for the duration of the international break. He is also expected to be unavailable for the high-profile away fixture against Liverpool, which is scheduled to take place on November 22. ## Critical Schedule Ahead Following the Liverpool clash, Manchester United faces a demanding schedule. The team travels to face Sporting CP in a crucial Champions League match just three days later. November concludes with a home game against Newcastle, while December begins with another away trip to Newcastle followed by matches against Coventry and Leipzig. ## Broader Squad Availability The loss of Baleba compounds existing injury concerns for the Manchester United coaching staff. The club is already managing the absence of Benjamin Sesko, who remains sidelined until at least January due to a shin injury. These combined absences place significant pressure on the remaining squad members during this busy period. ## Managerial Assessment Process Michael Carrick provided the update during his pre-match press conference ahead of the Aston Villa game. While he did not provide a precise return date, he emphasized that the recovery will exceed the international break. The medical team is currently monitoring the situation to determine the exact duration of his rehabilitation. ## Strategic Team Implications The absence of a key summer signing forces tactical adjustments for the upcoming winter fixtures. With critical Champions League and domestic matches approaching, the team must rely on depth to maintain performance levels. The focus now shifts to Baleba’s recovery process to ensure he returns to full fitness by December. ## Sources covering this story - https://metro.co.uk/2026/11/06/man-utd-suffer-blow-michael-carrick-reveals-long-carlos-baleba-29772298/ — --- _Summary written by Brifing from the original reporting. Copyright in the original article belongs to its publisher; read the full piece at the link above._