Carlos Baleba Injury Worry for Manchester United After Roma Comeback

Manchester United’s comeback against Roma brought relief, but it also left a major question hanging over Carlos Baleba. The midfielder was forced off with a hamstring injury, and Michael Carrick’s first assessment offered little comfort: “Initially it doesn’t look great.”

Baleba pulled up during a second-half attack, clutching his hamstring as he approached the Roma penalty area. He was visibly upset as he left the pitch. Carrick said United had no timeframe for his return and that the injury would need further assessment in the coming days.

That uncertainty lands at a difficult moment for United. They face Aston Villa in the Premier League on Sunday, and Baleba’s condition is now a concern ahead of that fixture. The available information does not establish whether he will be fit to play.

The injury came on a night when United had to dig deep. Roma led 2-0 at half-time, but Bruno Fernandes’ penalty pulled one back after the break. Matheus Cunha then scored twice late on to complete a 3-2 comeback victory. Cunha was sent off in added time, but United held on.

Carrick praised his players’ response, saying they showed “character and quality” when the team needed it. The win lifted the mood after a difficult spell, but Baleba’s injury has quickly shifted attention back to the challenges ahead.

For United, the immediate priority is to learn how serious the hamstring problem is. Carrick has not offered a recovery estimate, and any suggestion of a lengthy absence remains speculation. Until the club has more information, the midfielder’s status for the Villa match—and beyond—remains unclear.

The Roma result was a dramatic boost. Whether United can carry that momentum into the Premier League now depends, in part, on how the squad copes with the uncertainty around Baleba.