Will Carlos Baleba fix Manchester United? Three big questions before his potential debut

Manchester United paid Brighton $88.7m plus another $6.8m in add-ons for Carlos Baleba in August, and they have not been able to use him yet. The 22-year-old Cameroonian midfielder has been sidelined by an ankle injury that has kept him out of competitive action, but that could change on Saturday when Tottenham visit Old Trafford. United fans are hoping his arrival finally solves the balance issues that have plagued the team at the start of the season, although the task looks enormous for one player.

• Baleba cost $88.7m fixed plus $6.8m in add-ons from Brighton.
• An ankle injury has kept him from debuting since his August move.
• United have won just one of their first five Premier League games and conceded eight goals.
• Carrick has used Mainoo and Tielemans as a double pivot with mixed results.
• His most likely debut route is from the bench due to a lack of match sharpness.

What Carlos Baleba can bring to United's midfield

United spent close to $200m rebuilding their midfield in the summer transfer window. Andrey Santos arrived from Chelsea before Youri Tielemans made the move from Aston Villa, and Baleba's capture from Brighton completed a long-overdue overhaul. The club's recruitment team wanted the Cameroonian to fill a void that has existed at Old Trafford for too long: a midfielder with physical range, ball-winning ability and the personality to play out from tight areas.

Baleba himself explained his approach to possession in a Sky Sports interview, saying you need courage to come out with the ball in difficult and risky areas. That mindset fits what the Old Trafford crowd has been demanding for years. Since the latter stages of the Alex Ferguson era, the club has lacked a truly complete midfielder, one capable of defending and building with equal assurance. Paul Pogba seemed destined for that role, but a string of managers failed to recognise and exploit his attacking instincts.

Michael Carrick's tactical dilemma with Mainoo and Tielemans

Carrick has deployed Kobbie Mainoo and Tielemans as a double pivot in United's last four league outings, with mixed results. Mainoo is enjoying the best form of his career, producing displays that underline his international credentials. Tielemans, however, presents a more complicated picture: his passing and distance-covered numbers are among the best in the squad, yet the team looks too open through the middle.

Only Noussair Mazraoui and Mainoo average more accurate passes per 90 minutes than the Belgian, who also covers more ground than any United player. Even so, the team has looked vulnerable in defensive transition. Bruno Fernandes's freedom as a No. 10, Tielemans's limitations without the ball, or a mix of both factors explain why Carrick has not yet found the right balance. The chaos is reflected in the results: one win, eight goals conceded and a constant sense of fragility.

Starter or substitute? The most likely plan against Tottenham

Baleba was included in a matchday squad for the first time away to Fulham on 20 September, just before the international break. Last week he played his first minutes in a behind-closed-doors friendly, a test designed to restore competitive rhythm away from the public eye. The sensible call is for him to start on the bench against Tottenham. He has spent weeks without top-level competition and Carrick will not want to burn such a valuable asset in a high-stakes game.

Tottenham have their own midfield problems this season. Roberto De Zerbi is wrestling with many of the same issues Carrick faces, which opens the door for United to control that area, especially at home. That said, getting the balance of the midfield wrong or rushing Baleba back before he is ready could prove costly. Carrick is under pressure to show he can steer the team in the right direction, and another underwhelming result would leave him fighting for his job.

Is Carlos Baleba the saviour Old Trafford is waiting for?

Expectations should be kept in check. Baleba's numbers at Brighton last season did not mark him out as a natural creator: he ranked seventh among his teammates for accurate passes per 90 minutes and 16th for big chances created. Some of that can be linked to his struggles with form and fitness, but United have signed primarily a defensive and athletic midfielder, not a playmaker.

There is a clear limit to what any single player can fix. Carrick is battling years of poor recruitment and boardroom mismanagement. Baleba can improve the team's balance, but he cannot erase deep structural flaws overnight. Still, Saturday could be the day United fans finally see, on the Old Trafford pitch, exactly why the club paid so much money for him.

Frequently asked questions about Carlos Baleba and his debut