Maguire's ban - Carrick has alternatives

[Getty Images]

Harry Maguire's extended ban is not a surprise and would have been the concern for Michael Carrick as soon as Lisandro Martinez was sent off against Leeds.

With Martinez equally unlikely to get his red card against the Elland Road outfit overturned, it leaves Carrick with a major decision to make for Saturday's crucial trip to Chelsea.

The obvious move would be to pair Leny Yoro with Ayden Heaven. However, at 20 and 19 that would represent a very inexperienced pairing, even if Yoro did cost £52m and England Under-20 international Heaven is regarded as a central defender of immense promise.

However, Carrick does have alternatives at Stamford Bridge.

Luke Shaw and Noussair Mazraoui both played as central defenders in Ruben Amorim's three-at-the-back system and have the experience Yoro, who was shaky against Leeds, and Heaven, who has made 14 Premier League appearances this season but is yet to start under Carrick, lack. Both could play in a two or three man central defensive formation.

Casemiro has played in central defence as an emergency but he is surely too valuable in midfield and while fellow midfielder Manuel Ugarte filled in on Monday once Martinez had gone off, it seems unlikely he will be asked to do the job from the start.

Tyler Fredericson was on the bench at Bournemouth and captained United's Under-21 side in their Premier League International Cup defeat by Real Madrid last week. However, he has just a two-minute substitute appearance at first-team level since starting the shock EFL Cup defeat to League Two Grimsby in August.