Man United trio begin make or break season ahead of Carrington return

Manchester United are back in pre-season training today with Michael Carrick getting his first look at some of his squad for the 2026/27 campaign

Just 46 days after Manchester United’s comprehensive 3-0 victory at Brighton and Hove Albion, some of the first-team squad will return to Carrington today for the start of pre-season. Due to the World Cup, there will be a staggered return of players to the training ground this summer.

The first wave of returnees will all have a point to prove, one way or another. They either missed out on the World Cup after their nations failed to qualify, or they were overlooked by their national team’s head coach. That latter scenario is certainly the case for Harry Maguire.

In case you have been living under a rock, Maguire was left frustrated after being snubbed for a spot in England’s World Cup squad. The centre-back made his feelings abundantly clear too. First, he released a statement insisting he was ‘shocked and gutted’ by Thomas Tuchel’s decision. Not content with that, Maguire hammered home the point in New York.

Appearing on The Rest is Football, Maguire shed light on the disagreement he had with Tuchel when he informed him he was not picked for the World Cup. The Three Lions’ defensive scares at the tournament only strengthened Maguire’s argument.

But with pre-season getting underway today, the centre-back has to channel that frustration and disappointment into his performances this year. Maguire is under contract until the end of this season and while United hold an option to extend his stay by a further 12 months, it is not a given they will activate it.

The 33-year-old is drawing towards the end of his career and United have a number of centre-backs on the books. Ayden Heaven and Leny Yoro will be pushing for more game time while Lisandro Martinez and Matthijs de Ligt, once he is back from injury, will be battling for Maguire’s spot.

He therefore has a lot to prove but if he can carry on his form from last season, into this, Maguire will be confident of keeping his starting spot and forcing more pressure on Tuchel to select him. Another who may have felt aggrieved at missing out on the England squad was Luke Shaw.

Nobody would have anticipated last summer that Shaw would start every United Premier League game. And yet, he did, and his spot in the team was fully deserved.

Shaw is now, like Maguire, in the final year of his contract at Old Trafford. Talk of signing a new left-back has persisted this summer with Newcastle’s Lewis Hall linked with the Reds.

Were Hall to sign, Shaw would have legitimate competition for his spot in the team. Patrick Dorgu was impressive last season, but his best performances came further up the pitch. Diego Leon is still a rough diamond so Shaw, at the moment, keeps his place.

Considering Hall has not signed, Shaw has the opportunity to strengthen his hold on left-back and potentially earn himself a new contract too. He turns 31 next week but the defender still has at least another couple of years in him if he can continue last season’s form, this year.

The extra fixtures though could make or break that contract offer. While the extra matches could be a burden for Shaw, Mason Mount will be seeing them as a lifeline.

After Ruben Amorim left, Mount found opportunities hard to come by. A mixture of injuries and a change of system under Michael Carrick, did not help the former Chelsea man.

In the 3-4-2-1, Mount could flourish but with just one attacking midfield option in the 4-2-3-1 system, he was always going to play second fiddle to Bruno Fernandes. When Mount has played, there has been no doubting his commitment.

But in 72 appearances for United, he has only scored seven goals and bagged two assists. That return is nowhere near good enough and while Maguire and Shaw are looking to build on good seasons, Mount needs to have one.

Unlike his defensive teammates, Mount has another two years on his contract which is a blessing and a curse. While on the surface, that gives Mount time to prove he can be an option, it also puts a countdown on United selling him.

If United want to make any form of profit on Mount, they would need to look at selling him this summer. Of course, they don’t have to sell him but if Mount doesn’t prove his fitness and quality early doors, it will only strengthen the case to cut their losses.

Extra matches this season should give Mount a chance to play slightly more regularly. But with the unenviable task of unseating Fernandes ahead of him, the onus is on him to prove himself.