MICHAEL CARRICK admits it is “not ideal” that Manchester United have two fewer recovery days than City ahead of the derby.
United host Sabah in their Champions League opener on Thursday night after City beat Porto 2-0 on Tuesday evening.
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Champions League games are usually staged on Tuesdays and Wednesdays but United have been saddled with a Thursday slot.
The schedule leaves United with less than 72 hours to prepare for the visit of City on Sunday afternoon and left back Luke Shaw missed open training on Wednesday.
United sources said Shaw was on a designated recovery day after he came off in the 91st minute of the 2-2 draw with Everton.
But given the tight turnaround between games, it seems unlikely that Shaw will line up against the Azerbaijani champions.
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“I’m not concerned,” Carrick stressed. “I wouldn’t say it’s ideal in some ways but it’s not something that we’ve given too much thought about.
“We’re not in control of that. We’ve got to deal with the cards that we’re dealt and that’s what it is. So we’ll make the most of it.”
When asked about Shaw, Carrick added: “We just gave him an extra recovery date today. So we’ll obviously see by tomorrow how he is.
“But it’s not an ongoing thing or a plan or anything like that. It was just off the back of the game the other day.
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“So, as normal, each individual has kind of different little things that we manage and Luke was one of them today.”
Shaw started in all 38 of United’s Premier League matches last season but was rested for their domestic cup defeats to Grimsby Town and Brighton.
Right back Noussair Mazraoui, who has filled in at left back several times, replaced Shaw at Everton and could earn a recall.
Marcus Rashford also trained on Wednesday after his 71st-minute removal at Everton, where Carrick said he “felt something”.
Benjamin Sesko is also pushing to start after coming off the bench to nod in his first goal of the season against Everton.
Sesko has not started since May 3 when he aggravated a shin injury against Liverpool that ruled him out for three-and-a-half months.
“Ben’s close,” Carrick added. “He’s obviously getting closer and closer. He missed a lot
“The Liverpool game was a long time ago and it is a long time for him to miss and we had to manage him and look after him, get him fit.
“He has probably trained three and a bit weeks fully with no restrictions, and I think you can see that, coming onto the pitch and getting his rhythm and it was a fantastic goal.
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“He did an awful lot for us last season, it was nice to see him get on the end of that cross (at Everton).
“So, he’s in a good place, Ben.”
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