Manchester United’s pre-season is officially underway, and the Carrington training complex had a different feel to it this week. A mix of first-team regulars, young academy prospects, and a few high-profile summer signings were all spotted getting to work.
The group that reported back includes Bryan Mbeumo, Benjamin Sesko, and Patrick Dorgu — three players United brought in during the summer window. The club hasn’t confirmed the full schedule for integrating World Cup participants, but the early arrivals suggest a serious push to build chemistry before the first friendly.
Who showed up and who’s still away
According to the Manchester Evening News, Harry Maguire, Luke Shaw, and Mason Mount were all present after being left out of England’s World Cup squad. Ayden Heaven was also there. Leny Yoro and Joshua Zirkzee returned after their nations didn’t select them for the tournament.
Noussair Mazraoui is the latest World Cup player to become available after Morocco lost 2-0 to France in the quarterfinals. He’ll join the group gradually, as will other players depending on when their teams were eliminated.
United’s academy pipeline was well represented. Harry Amass, Shea Lacey, Tyler Fredericson, and Jack Fletcher all reported for training. Toby Collyer, who spent last season on loan at West Brom and Hull City, was also put through drills. Dermot Mee, who recently signed a new deal, was part of the group too.
Why the early return of new signings matters
Mbeumo and Sesko arriving early is noteworthy. Both players were brought in to address specific issues — Mbeumo adds directness on the wing, and Sesko gives United a different profile at striker. Getting them into the system before the season starts could make a real difference, especially after last year’s slow start under Ruben Amorim.
United stumbled out of the gate in 2025/26 but turned things around after Amorim was sacked in January. Michael Carrick took over and steadied the ship, pulling the team up to third place and back into the Champions League. That finish bought Carrick time and credibility, but the pressure is still on. United’s fanbase isn’t in a patient mood.
The first pre-season game is in eight days against Wrexham in Helsinki. That’s not exactly a high-stakes test, but it’s the first chance to see how the new pieces fit together. Carrick will likely rotate heavily, giving minutes to the academy kids and the returning veterans alike.
For now, the vibe at Carrington seems positive. A few key starters are still away on World Cup duty, but the core of next season’s squad is already on the grass. That’s a better starting point than last year, and after the chaos of the previous campaign, United will take any head start they can get.
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