Manchester United manager Michael Carrick has provided an update ahead of Sunday’s Premier League meeting with Fulham at Old Trafford, where United aim for a third consecutive league win.

A victory would help United maintain their position inside the top four, as Chelsea and Liverpool continue to chase European qualification spots. Carrick is expecting nothing less than three points.

Dorgu Out for Extended Spell
Carrick offered mixed injury news, confirming that the squad could be short-handed in defence.

“Joshua Zirkzee is back in training this week, which is good news—his first time after being out for a short spell. Great to have him back,” he said.

“Pat [Dorgu] will be out for a period of time. We’re still assessing exactly how long. Initially we weren’t sure if it was just cramp or something more serious, and at the moment it looks like it’s on the more serious side. We’ll have to see how many weeks.”

Carrick also provided an update on Matthijs de Ligt: “He’s not training with us yet, just working through the process of getting him back as soon as we can.”

Consistency Key for United
Carrick addressed United’s inconsistent form at Old Trafford this season and stressed the importance of maintaining focus as they aim to climb back into Europe.

“I think ultimately consistency is the key to success, and in my eyes it’s one of the most difficult things to achieve—to be good consistently,” Carrick said. “It takes so much to cope emotionally with the ups and downs of this game. That is what we’re working towards. We’ve had a great couple of weeks with two good results, and there are big games coming up. It’s about keeping the mind in the right place.”

Fernandes Committed to United
On speculation surrounding captain Bruno Fernandes and a potential move to the Saudi Pro League, Carrick confirmed the midfielder is fully committed to the club.

“Let’s not get too far ahead. We are focused on this game, and while the transfer window is closing soon, my main priority is getting through Sunday against Fulham. Bruno is fully committed,” Carrick said.

“No issues at all. Things further down the line will be addressed towards the end of the season. Everything is positive at the moment, and there’s no reason for it to be otherwise.”