Kobbie Mainoo has not been named in the Man United squad against Leeds due to injury and Michael Carrick spoke about the knock suffered by the midfielder ahead of kick-off against Leeds.

Michael Carrick described the knock picked up by Kobbie Mainoo in training this week as a “small issue” and doesn’t believe the injury is serious. Mainoo has not been named in the United squad tonight as they look to strengthen their grip on a Champions League spot by beating Leeds.

United interim head coach Carrick has made four changes for the game, with Noussair Mazraoui coming in for Diogo Dalot, Lisandro Martinez replacing the suspended Harry Maguire, Benjamin Sesko replacing Bryan Mbeumo and Manuel Ugarte starting in place of Mainoo.

Carrick spoke to Sky Sports ahead of the game and he was asked to give an update on Mainoo’s situation.

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“Over the last day or so in training, he just picked up a small issue,” he said. “So it seems not too bad, but it wasn’t worth pushing it tonight with the games coming up. Manu (Ugarte) came on against Bournemouth and did really well at the end of the game and played for Uruguay so he’s in good shape and we took that decision to take Kobbie out of it.”

When asked whether bringing Ugarte in for Mainoo had influenced the decision to start with Benjamin Sesko up front, Carrick said: “No, that’s not something that we spoke about. Just bringing Ben in, we’ve got a choice of forwards and it’s a nice position to be in.

“Bryan’s the one tonight that will come on and help us finish the game strong. He gives us good flexibility, so it wasn’t to do with that, Kobbie’s (injury) was a little bit later than that so it doesn’t change how we approach the game.”

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United will move 10 points clear of sixth-placed Chelsea if they can beat Leeds this evening. With the Premier League set to receive five spots in next season’s Champions League, United would be on the brink of securing qualification for the competition if they can win this evening.