Marcus Rashford’s return to Manchester United was always going to be judged in difficult circumstances, but the early evidence of his second spell has been muted. Multiple reports have pointed to a secret injury as a key reason the winger has struggled to find rhythm.

There was no grand unveiling when the academy graduate came back to his boyhood club. By the time he made his low-key second debut at Old Trafford against Ipswich Town, the backdrop was already shaped by his failed attempt to complete the permanent move to Barcelona he had openly wanted.

Since then, the numbers have not helped his case. Rashford is still without a goal or assist for United this season, and that victory over Ipswich remains the only match he has featured in and won. Michael Carrick did not use him at all in United’s search for a winner at Elland Road on Sunday.

The wider picture is important, though. Rashford has been dealing with a hip injury since the World Cup, according to Sky News, and continues to receive daily treatment. The problem forced him to withdraw from the autumn internationals, and since those fixtures he has managed only a single minute of Premier League football.

“He had the slight injury where he had to pull out of England, and we’ve managed that a little bit,” Carrick said.

For a player whose game depends so heavily on pace and power, even a minor physical setback can have an effect that extends beyond the body. Rashford’s direct style remains one of his strongest qualities, but his output has suffered, and his underlying numbers in front of goal are down on his prolific season at Barcelona.

Even so, the issue is not his alone. United’s attack has also lacked consistency around him. Bryan Mbeumo is the only player to score in more than one Premier League match so far, while Amad Diallo is still waiting for his first meaningful impact. Benjamin Šeško has been hindered by injury, Matheus Cunha has dropped to the bench, and Bruno Fernandes has not produced at the level United need from him.

Rashford has taken 17 shots in all competitions with an xG of 1.92, a return that would usually have brought goals. Only three Premier League players have had more attempts without scoring. Carrick still sees enough to remain patient.

“Marcus has done a lot of good things,” Carrick said. “He’s doing some good things, and it’s not quite getting that break, putting himself in good positions and having some good opportunities,” Carrick insisted. “He had the one the other night where maybe he’d feel he could have done better with. He’s in there to make a difference.

“If you keep doing the right things, you get the rewards in the end. As long as he keeps doing that, he’ll be O.K.”

Sir Alex Ferguson once reflected on the difficulty of visiting Leeds United, writing: “The crowd invariably give us the impression that a lynching would be too good for us.” On this occasion, Manchester United did not deliver any sense of calm under Carrick. Instead, they left Elland Road with a performance that raised as many issues as it settled.

Lisandro Martínez drew attention for his criticism of Manchester United’s technical director Jason Wilcox, and his verdict on Carrick was similarly guarded. “He does his best,” the World Cup winner said.

“Every season is different. You can’t stay with what you did last season. The teams know how you play, they know every detail, if you don’t change next season [it] is a big problem.”

Carrick responded with a bold tactical adjustment. United moved away from their usual 4-2-3-1 and set up in a fluid system that changed with the phase of play and Leeds’ positioning. Out of possession, they shifted into a back five, with Amad Diallo tracking Gabriel Gudmundsson’s advances. With no natural left winger or center forward in the starting XI, Carrick used Bryan Mbeumo alongside Bruno Fernandes and Youri Tielemans in a narrow front three. That front line combined neatly for the opener, as Tielemans released Amad before continuing his run and providing the first-time pass for Mbeumo to finish.

Martínez’s presence was also significant at the back. Carrick ignored the backlash from the defender’s midweek outburst and kept him in the side, and the decision was quickly justified. Before the interval, Leeds were restricted to four shots and only 0.25 xG, with Harry Maguire and Martínez maintaining control. But Martínez went off at half-time after appearing to pick up a knock, and the change soon altered the game.

Noussair Mazraoui came on and was placed to the left of Maguire, while Leny Yoro continued in his hybrid right-back and center-back role. Six minutes later, Yoro’s response to difficult circumstances became even more important after Mazraoui conceded a corner and was beaten in the air by Tarik Muharemović, who helped set up Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s equaliser.

United’s midweek trip to Madrid had already left its mark, but Yoro produced a far more encouraging response to his first senior red card. Asked to handle a demanding role in a hostile setting, he repeatedly got across to clear danger as Leeds increased the pressure.

Bruno Fernandes, though, remains short of his best. Since his hat trick against Ipswich Town at the end of August, he has produced a goal or assist in only one of his next eight appearances for Manchester United, and that came against Azerbaijan upstarts Sabah FK.

Michael Carrick has brushed aside the noise around Lisandro Martínez’s recent outburst, explaining why the defender remains in Manchester United’s starting line-up for Sunday’s meeting with Leeds United.

The manager said the club had already dealt with the matter and had moved on, even though Martínez’s comments only came a few days ago and prompted a later apology. Carrick made clear that selection decisions were now being driven by preparation for the contest rather than the controversy surrounding the player.

“What’s done is done and we’ve moved on,” Carrick sternly told Sky Sports, pointing toward Martínez’s belated apology, which was the second clarification of his damning statement. “So we have done that and we’ve prepared the team. We know their threats, their strengths, we know that. We’ve got some as well, so we’ll get the balance right.”

Carrick also struck an upbeat note about United’s prospects, despite the team’s fragile form. He has continued to insist that his side are still “in the mix” for both Premier League and Champions League honours, and he sounded similarly positive about the trip.

“It’s a challenging place to come, of course it is, but it’s a fantastic game to be involved with and we’re in a good place to come and attack it and look forward to it,” Carrick claimed. “You’ve got to bring a little bit of everything, and none more so than today. The atmosphere and the intensity that naturally is generated in a game like this is something that brings it out in us as well.”

The team sheet reflects that stance. Martínez starts in a back four alongside Harry Maguire, while Senne Lammens is in goal and Diogo Dalot also features in defence. United’s bench includes Karl Darlow, Harry Amass, Matthijs de Ligt, Noussair Mazraoui, Mason Mount, Shea Lacey, Matheus Cunha, Marcus Rashford and Joshua Zirkzee.

Even with Carrick talking up reconciliation, the reality appears practical. United remain short of defensive alternatives who can step in for Martínez and partner Maguire, making the arrangement as much about necessity as forgiveness.