Carlos Baleba will have to wait a little longer before discovering Old Trafford. Having joined Manchester United this week from Brighton, the Cameroonian midfielder is dealing with an ankle problem and will be unavailable for around three weeks. He will therefore miss Sunday's home game against Ipswich as well as his new club's upcoming fixtures.
The timing is frustrating. Baleba had only just joined United following a transfer estimated at £60 million, with add-ons potentially included, and was expected to bring his power and workrate to the midfield.
But this injury is not an unwelcome surprise for the club. The ankle issue was already known at the time of his arrival and does not call into question either the transfer or his long-term availability.
A much-anticipated addition for Carrick
Michael Carrick, however, is not hiding his enthusiasm. The Manchester coach sees Baleba as a signing capable of bringing a different profile to his midfield.
The English manager believes, above all, that the Cameroonian still has significant room for improvement. For United, the aim is therefore to give him time to recover fully rather than rush his return.
This patience will be all the more important as Manchester United look to rebuild their midfield after a difficult start to the season. Following the 2-0 defeat to Hull on matchday one, Carrick needed additional solutions to rebalance his side. Baleba was meant to be precisely one of them.
A delayed start, not a cause for alarm
The Cameroonian is not expected to be out for a long period. His return could come around mid-September, depending on how his recovery progresses.
For Baleba, the wait begins even before his first minutes in the Manchester shirt.
Manchester United will have to be patient to see their new signing in action. Baleba, for his part, will now need to turn this waiting period into motivation before truly launching his adventure at Old Trafford.
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