A summer arrival remains a doubtful starter for the upcoming fixture against Brighton after being troubled by a persistent ankle problem, though he has taken encouraging steps in his recovery this week.
Carlos Baleba was spotted working through a gym session and later training on the grass at the club's Carrington base as he continues his rehabilitation, but a club update has since tempered expectations that he will feature against Brighton.
"Baleba is working as hard as he can to get back into contention," read a statement issued by the club, signalling that while progress is being made, he is unlikely to be risked so soon.
Manager Michael Carrick had already flagged the issue last month, downplaying its severity while stopping short of committing to a firm return date. "He's got a little ankle issue," Carrick said at the time. "But we knew that before, so it's no major issue. It will be great to have him back."
Carrick added that while there was optimism around Baleba's recovery, he was reluctant to set a specific timeline for his comeback. "We'll wait and see," he said. "We're hopeful but I don't want to put any deadlines on it just yet."
The images of Baleba back on the training pitch will nonetheless be viewed as a positive sign after weeks on the sidelines, even if his immediate involvement against Brighton looks improbable. The midfielder's gradual reintegration into full training suggests the club are managing his return with caution, prioritising a complete recovery over rushing him back for a single fixture.
Baleba is not the only player whose fitness is under scrutiny heading into a busy period of fixtures. Carrick is expected to give further updates on the availability of Luke Shaw, Amad Diallo and Matthijs de Ligt when he speaks to the media on Tuesday ahead of the club's upcoming cup tie. All three have been dealing with fitness concerns of their own, and their potential returns would provide a timely boost to the squad's depth as the season progresses through a congested schedule.
With injuries mounting across several positions, the coaching staff will be keen to assess which players can be safely reintroduced without risking setbacks. The training ground sightings of Baleba offer a glimpse of encouragement, but the club's cautious tone in their official statement suggests supporters should not expect an immediate return to matchday squads.
Attention will now turn to Tuesday's press conference, where Carrick is likely to provide clearer indications on the fitness of his squad heading into the cup fixture. For now, Baleba's recovery appears to be progressing steadily, even if his reappearance in a matchday squad may still be some way off.
The broader picture points to a club navigating a challenging stretch of fixtures while managing multiple injury concerns simultaneously. How quickly Baleba, Shaw, Diallo and De Ligt can return to full training and match fitness could prove pivotal in shaping the team's options in the weeks ahead.
Based on reporting from Standard Football.