As Michael Carrick shifts to a possession-dominant style, the Cameroonian powerhouse nears full fitness, threatening to disrupt the established Mainoo-Tielemans partnership and solve United’s defensive midfield puzzle.
Manchester United have fielded the same starting midfield combination in five of their last six games, with Andrey Santos serving as a rotational player.
Academy star Kobbie Mainoo and Belgium captain Youri Tielemans have been Michael Carrick's midfield pairing of choice to start the season, and they've been impressive.
Tielemans and Mainoo have three assists between them, but it's their ball retention that has caught Carrick's eye as he transitions his side into a more possession-dominant team.
After the international break, United will have more options as players return from injury, and new signing Carlos Baleba is set to push for a starting spot.
The Baleba boost
United fans have yet to see their new £70 million midfielder on the pitch, but his return to football is imminent, as he was named on the bench in the 1-1 draw against Fulham.
Baleba had been a transfer target since 2025, when he excelled during his first two seasons with Brighton. The board set a £100 million price tag, which they refused to pay, but the Cameroonian joined after the two clubs reached an agreement this summer.
The Athletic have reported that Baleba arrived at United with an ankle injury that he sustained during preseason with Brighton, which kept him sidelined for his first available games.
As he nears the final stages of his rehabilitation, the midfielder is expected to feature in the under-21s' academy game against affiliate side Lausanne Sports this week, ahead of his imminent debut.
Carrick may take a chance on Baleba in the first game after the international break against Spurs, depending on how he performs against Lausanne.
Carrick's midfield conundrum
With Baleba returning from injury, Carrick now has four recognised defensive midfielders at his disposal, plus Mason Mount, who has also recently returned from injury and can play deeper, and Bruno Fernandes, the Reds' attacking midfielder, who has been shifted back at times.
Carrick's trouble is how he formats the midfield. Tielemans and Mainoo would be the obvious choice considering their recent performances, but both are very similar players.
Mainoo works best with a defensive-minded player next to him to ease the defensive burden, which Baleba excels at.
Tielemans would favour the same, as he operates best in an attacking area of the pitch, but Santos is likely to be the fourth choice out of the four at the moment, as he's featured sporadically under Carrick.
