Manchester United vs Tottenham: Dorgu and Šeško Out as Spurs Regain Key Defenders

Manchester United face important selection problems

Manchester United return to Premier League action against Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday, 10 October, with several confirmed absences complicating Michael Carrick's preparations. Patrick Dorgu suffered an injury while representing his national team and is expected to miss several weeks. Benjamin Šeško is also unavailable, while Manuel Ugarte remains sidelined following knee surgery. Noussair Mazraoui returned from international duty with a physical problem and requires further assessment before his participation can be confirmed. These absences affect different areas of United's squad, reducing the options available to Carrick before an important home fixture. The final selection will indicate whether the manager can maintain his preferred structure or needs to make adjustments to compensate for unavailable players. Tottenham also enter the match with injury concerns, making confirmed team news particularly important for both clubs.

Dorgu ruled out as Mazraoui remains uncertain

Dorgu's absence is particularly significant because he provides an option in wide defensive areas and can contribute to attacking phases. Carrick confirmed that the defender is facing a period on the sidelines after suffering his injury during international duty. Mazraoui's situation is less definitive. The Moroccan international also experienced a problem while representing his country, but United have not confirmed that he will definitely miss Saturday's fixture. That distinction matters when evaluating United's defensive options. Depending on the final medical assessment, Carrick may need to reconsider the balance between defensive stability and attacking support from wide positions. Šeško's absence creates another selection question at the opposite end of the pitch. The striker will not be ready for Tottenham, leaving United to construct their attacking approach using the available forwards. The starting lineup will provide the clearest indication of Carrick's solution.

Baleba could make his Manchester United debut

Manchester United have received more encouraging news regarding several players returning to training. Amad Diallo, Marcus Rashford and Kobbie Mainoo have all resumed some training activity, although their readiness for competitive minutes requires individual assessment. Carlos Baleba is another player attracting attention before Saturday's match. The midfielder has been increasing his involvement in training and could be considered for his Manchester United debut. He was previously an unused substitute against Fulham and also featured in a behind-closed-doors friendly against Lausanne-Sport. However, possible involvement should not be confused with a confirmed starting role. Carrick must assess Baleba's readiness alongside the options already available in midfield. The manager's decisions will be important for United's ability to control possession, protect central areas and support attacking transitions against Tottenham.

Tottenham receive a defensive boost

Tottenham have confirmed the availability of Micky van de Ven and Jan Paul van Hecke for the trip to Old Trafford. Both defenders experienced fitness concerns during international duty, but Roberto De Zerbi has indicated that they are available for selection. Their return provides Tottenham with additional options in central defence. However, the visitors continue to manage several absences elsewhere in the squad. Pedro Porro remains sidelined, although he will travel with the group. Dejan Kulusevski is also continuing his recovery and is not yet confirmed as ready for competitive action. Mykhailo Mudryk, Wilson Odobert and Xavi Simons remain unavailable. These circumstances leave De Zerbi with decisions to make in both defensive and attacking areas. The availability of Van de Ven and Van Hecke strengthens the squad, but their return does not remove every selection problem facing Tottenham.

What matters most before kick-off?

The most important questions before Manchester United against Tottenham concern player availability and how both managers organise their teams. United must manage Dorgu's absence, decide whether Mazraoui is fit enough to feature and select an attack without Šeško. Baleba's potential involvement offers another point of interest, particularly if Carrick wants to adjust the midfield. For Tottenham, the return of two central defenders provides greater flexibility, but injuries in other positions may still influence De Zerbi's approach. The tactical consequences will become clearer when the official starting lineups are announced. Changes in defensive personnel can affect how teams build possession, press opponents and protect spaces during transitions. For BetLogic readers, the most useful information is therefore not simply the number of missing players, but which positions are affected and how the confirmed replacements fit into each team's structure. The match begins at 17:30 BST, with both clubs looking to restart their domestic campaigns positively after the international break.