Once they are into the meat of the season, few at Old Trafford will remember this day.

However, depending on how the situation unfolds before the transfer window closes on 1 September, it could be very significant in one way.

With an hour gone, Marcus Rashford was introduced by Carrick as one of six substitutes.

It was his first appearance for his boyhood club since Viktoria Plzen away in the Europa League on 12 December 2024, after which he was effectively banished by Amorim and loaned out, first to Aston Villa and then Barcelona, from where he was not expected to return.

Carrick had enough opportunities when he spoke to UK media in Maynooth on Thursday to say so if it was certain Rashford will be staying beyond this month.

United officials were quick to make it known the number nine shirt Rashford wore in Poland was not permanent, to stave off any complaints from those tempted to buy one.

The 28-year-old looked relaxed enough throughout.

When he was sent out for his first warm-up during the game, he applauded the positive reception he got from United supporters in the corner he was running towards. Although, within seconds, Samuel Chukwueze was tapping home AC Milan’s first equaliser at the same end of the pitch.

Rashford was out later than most of his fellow substitutes for a second-half warm-up, but he still had time for a couple of passing tricks with Martinez – a World Cup semi-final rival a month ago.

Once the England attacker came on, it was noticeable he stayed wider than Patrick Dorgu, the man he replaced on the left. For the record, Dorgu and Harry Maguire were United’s men on the scoresheet in this latest tune-up.

Rashford’s first run ended with him conceding a foul, but it wasn’t long before a brilliant piece of play by the corner flag took him past an opponent.

Not surprisingly, that brought the crowd to its feet.

As reintroductions go, it was solid, not spectacular. But it didn’t need to be anything more.

Premier League games at Hull and against Ipswich will offer a greater insight into Carrick’s thinking. The transfer deadline will bring permanence to what remains an uncertain situation.

TORONTO — The Aaron Judge watch is officially on.

The star right fielder played catch Friday for the first time in months, his biggest step toward returning from an injury that has sent the New York Yankees’ season into a tailspin.

Judge hasn’t been in the Yankees’ lineup since May 31, recovering from a stress fracture in his first right rib.

“Part of the ramp-up of the baseball activities,” manager Aaron Boone said before Saturday afternoon’s game against the Toronto Blue Jays at the Rogers Centre.

The move was significant for Judge, who’s battling against time. The regular season ends Sept. 27.

The Yankees woke up Saturday in second place in the American League East, 6 1/2 games back of the first-place Tampa Bay Rays. But the Yankees also held a three-game lead for the top wild-card position.

Boone was asked if Judge could return in a month, or by Sept. 15.

“I don’t know,” he said. “We expect him back. Hopefully things continue to go well.”

Boone said that he had spoken to Judge on Friday and that the throwing session went well, though he didn’t know what Judge would do next.

Doctors didn’t require Judge to undergo a new round of testing before allowing him to throw Friday, Boone said. It’s still possible that he’ll undergo another MRI to assess his healing, the manager added.

It was unclear whether doctors consider Judge simply healthy enough to play or if the Yankees are running out of time to get him ready.

“There’s still healing to go,” Boone said. “But he’s at the stage where he’s able to start ramping up.”

The Yankees’ offense has been a mess without Judge, who has won the last two American League MVP awards and three total.

They were fourth in the majors in runs scored (305) and second in wRC+ (117) before Judge’s last game on May 31. Since June 1, they are 26th in runs scored (241) and 28th in wRC+ (87).

The Yankees were also only 1 1/2 games back in the AL East when Judge last suited up.

Their season may hinge on whether Judge is fully healthy and has enough time to round into postseason shape with so few regular-season games remaining.

Yankees awaiting the return of several other stars

Left fielder Cody Bellinger (left hamstring strain) sprinted in the outfield at the Rogers Centre on Saturday and could start a rehab assignment sometime next week, Boone said. Giancarlo Stanton (right calf strain) ran the bases and hit on the field Friday, though Boone said he didn’t have a timeline for when the designated hitter could return. Lefty starting pitcher Carlos Rodón (elbow inflammation) has made two rehab starts, and Boone said the Yankees haven’t decided whether his next start will be in the majors or if he’ll need another rehab outing.

Germany’s Johannes Liebmann and American Kate Douglass set swimming world records on Saturday, dazzling at events held in Paris and California.

Liebmann, 19, knocked nearly four seconds off the men’s 1500m freestyle record as he claimed his first international gold medal at the European Aquatics Championships in Paris.

He completed the distance in 14 minutes 26.79 seconds – 3.88secs faster than the previous record which was set by American Bobby Finke at the 2024 Olympics, also held in the French capital.

Liebmann became the first swimmer to go under 14:30 for the distance as he slashed the most time off the record since Australia’s Grant Hackett in 2001.

Three-time Olympic champion Hackett took more than seven seconds off when he swam 14:34.56 – a record which stood for 10 years.

Douglass broke the women’s 50m freestyle record for the second time this summer, achieving her feat in California during heats at the Pan Pacific Championships.

The two-time Olympic champion, 24, clocked 23.49secs to regain the record from Gretchen Walsh.

Douglass swam 23.59 in June before compatriot Walsh lowered the mark to 23.55 nine days later.