Leny Yoro’s Fitness Puts Manchester United’s Thin Defence Under Pressure Against Roma

Manchester United’s defensive depth is being tested at a difficult point in Michael Carrick’s tenure. Leny Yoro is expected to start against Roma at Old Trafford, despite a recurring knee problem, while suspensions and injuries leave Carrick with few alternatives.

Yoro has been among United’s strongest defenders this season, and his availability matters beyond tonight’s match. Lisandro Martínez is suspended for Sunday’s Premier League game against Aston Villa, which starts at 16:30 GMT. A setback for Yoro would further narrow Carrick’s choices for both fixtures.

United’s back line has little room to absorb another absence

UEFA’s matchday four preview lists Yoro alongside Harry Maguire at centre-back. Patrick Dorgu, Marcus Rashford, Benjamin Šeško and Shaw are listed as unavailable, while Amad Diallo is doubtful with a muscle problem.

Dorgu has resumed training but won’t feature against Roma. Rashford’s fitness is being assessed day by day, and Shaw is not expected back on the training pitch until next week. United therefore have no fit specialist left-back available. Šeško and Manuel Ugarte aren’t expected to return before the end of 2026.

Carrick said Dorgu had completed his first session with the group and praised the work he had put in to recover, but confirmed the defender wouldn’t be involved the following day. Yoro’s knee was also a focus in the team news:

Roma have absences, but United need points

Roma also arrive short of key players. Koné and Pellegrini are out with hamstring injuries, goalkeeper Svilar is unavailable, and Paulo Dybala is a doubt with a calf problem.

The sides have had uneven league-phase campaigns. Roma drew 1-1 away to Fenerbahçe, lost 4-3 at home to Real Madrid, then beat Slovan Bratislava 4-0. United opened with a 4-0 home win over Sabah on 10 September, but followed it with a 2-0 defeat to Atlético de Madrid on 13 October and a 4-1 loss to Como on 21 October.

United sit 17th in the Premier League, clear of the relegation zone only on goal difference. Carrick took charge in January, and the club confirmed on 22 May that he had signed a contract as head coach. His position is now under pressure.

He has a personal link to this fixture: as a United player, Carrick scored twice in the 7-1 quarter-final second-leg win over Roma at Old Trafford in 2007. United advanced 8-3 on aggregate.

A two-week international break begins next Monday. The Associated Press reported that the club sees the pause as a natural time to assess Carrick’s future, after the Roma and Villa matches. For now, his immediate challenge is to get through both games with a defence that can’t easily absorb another injury.

United’s league-phase schedule continues away to Sporting CP on 25 November, followed by Leipzig’s visit to Old Trafford on 8 December. Every club plays its final league-phase match simultaneously on 27 January 2027.

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