Overview
- Carrick said on Friday that Patrick Dorgu “can certainly play” at left-back and described the 21-year-old's return from injury as “almost like a new signing.”
- United failed to recruit a specialist left-back in the 2026 summer window after targets including Lewis Hall, Alejandro Balde, Ian Maatsen and Rayan Ait‑Nouri proved unavailable or too costly.
- Dorgu joined United from Lecce in February 2025 for a reported £25m, missed large parts of the 2025–26 season through injury and has since shown versatility by playing wide roles for club and country.
- Tactically Carrick looks set to use Dorgu alongside Noussair Mazraoui as cover for Luke Shaw rather than make an immediate external signing, which could mean Dorgu plays many games at full-back.
- Longer term the club’s inability to land a specialist left-back leaves recruitment work unfinished and places pressure on Dorgu to improve his defensive marking if he is to secure a regular role.