Chris Davie
Published April 17, 2026 5:04pm
Updated April 17, 2026 5:04pm
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Kobbie Mainoo is in contention to return for Manchester United (Eamonn & James Clarke)
Kobbie Mainoo has travelled with Manchester United’s squad for their Premier League match against Chelsea but Leny Yoro is set to miss the game through injury.
Mainoo missed United’s 2-1 defeat at home to Leeds United on Monday night, with Michael Carrick claiming the midfielder’s absence was due to a ‘small issue’.
The 20-year-old is in contention to return against Chelsea on Saturday evening as he was with United’s squad as they travelled to London on Friday.
‘Kobbie, [is doing] little bits yeah, we’re working towards it,’ Carrick said at his press conference on Friday afternoon.
‘He’s done little bits, so there’s a decision to be made there.’
Ayden Heaven is set to start at centre-back with Leny Yoro missing from Manchester United’s squad (Eamonn & James Clarke)
However, Carrick faces a selection headache in defence as Harry Maguire and Lisandro Martinez are both suspended, while Matthijs de Ligt and Patrick Dorgu are still out.
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Yoro started alongside Martinez in the defeat to Leeds earlier this week but the French centre-back did not travel with United’s squad on Friday.
Ayden Heaven, who has made just four substitute appearances under Carrick, is in line to start for United for the first time since January 7.
‘I think Ayden’s in a good place,’ Carrick said on Friday.
‘Well, I know he’s in a good place. He’s obviously still young and he’s progressing through the early stages of his career, so I think it’s pretty natural for him to play some games and maybe not some others.
Man Utd squad vs Chelsea
Goalkeepers: Lammens, Bayindir, Heaton, Mee
Defenders: Shaw, Dalot, Heaven, Mazraoui, Malacia
Midfielders: Fernandes, Casemiro, Mainoo, Mount, Ugarte, T. Fletcher
Attackers: Sesko, Cunha, Mbeumo, Amad, Zirkzee, Lacey
‘He’s training really well, he’s learning, he’s listening, he wants to improve. So, I think it’s pretty natural, for a centre-half of his age, he’s probably well ahead of schedule in terms of the games that he’s played.
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‘He’s trained well, I’ve got no worries. He went away and played with England a couple of weeks ago and done well, so yeah, [he’s] looking forward to the game, for sure.’
Carrick has also included Shea Lacey and Tyler Fletcher in their squad to face Chelsea after they were unused substitutes in the defeat to Leeds at Old Trafford.
United currently sit third in the Premier League and seven points clear of Chelsea, who are sixth and have lost their last three league games.
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