Man Utd have been training at Carrington ahead of their return to the Champions League on Thursday night.

Luke Shaw was absent from Manchester United’s final training session before their return to the Champions League on Thursday night.

The 31-year-old is the only natural senior left-back in Michael Carrick’s squad after the failure to reinforce in the transfer window. It is understood Shaw is on a recovery day hence why the defender missed the session.

Shaw started every Premier League game last season but has a long record of fitness issues during his Old Trafford career. In his absence Harry Amass trained with the first team, as did teenage midfielder Jim Thwaites and young goalkeeper Solomon Honor.

Matthijs de Ligt, Carlos Baleba and Amad also missed out with the trio currently sidelined through injury.

United face Sabah FK on Thursday night in what is their first Champions League fixture since December 2023, when they beaten by Bayern Munich at Old Trafford and crashed out of the group stage.

This is the first time they have competed in the new league phase format, which offers them eight games before the end of January. They will be desperate to get off to a good start in what is the most winnable game on their schedule.

It is also a different dynamic for Michael Carrick, who is taking charge of his 21st game as United head coach but his first in a competition other than the Premier League.

How the more demanding schedule and the lack of training time impact Carrick and his coaching staff will be one of the fascinating subplots to this season. The United boss has previously overseen a Champions League game, taking charge of a 2-0 win at Villarreal in November 2021 during his time as caretaker boss.

United training squad:

Goalkeepers: Lammens, Darlow, Mee, Honor

Defenders: Dalot, Mazraoui, Maguire, Yoro, Heaven, Martinez, Amass

Midfielders: Santos, Mount, Tielemans, Mainoo, Fernandes, Thwaites

Forwards: Dorgu, Cunha, Rashford, Mbeumo, Zirkzee, Lacey, Sesko

The countdown to the Asian Games 2026 is now in its final stretch, with the tournament set to officially begin on Saturday, September 19.

The 16-day sporting extravaganza will be held across Aichi Prefecture and Nagoya in Japan and will mark the 20th edition of the Asian Games since the competition was first held in 1951.

More than 15,000 athletes from across Asia and beyond will compete for the coveted medals, with gold, silver and bronze awarded to the top three athletes or teams in each event.

For the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, however, the medals will carry a significance that goes beyond their value as sporting prizes. Their design was selected through an open competition that invited design students and professionals to submit their ideas.

The winning concept was built around the Games’ slogan, “Imagine One Asia,” and seeks to capture the diversity of the continent while highlighting the unifying power of sport.

That idea is reflected not only in the medal’s appearance but also in the unusual process through which its distinctive shape was developed.

What is the concept behind the Aichi-Nagoya 2026 medals?

The central idea behind the medal design is that of coming together through sport. Designer Daisuke Shiba drew inspiration from the theme of unity in diversity. The medal represents the many different forms that emerged as Asia developed its distinct cultures and identities, before those individual elements come together again through the shared experience of sport.

The design process itself was built around the idea of fragments becoming something complete. Ceramic discs were repeatedly broken and examined during development, with the process continuing until a naturally appealing form emerged.

That approach was also intended to mirror the journey of athletes. Their road to the Asian Games is marked by setbacks, difficult training sessions and countless challenges. The fragments of those experiences eventually come together in one moment of achievement — the medal.

The idea behind the design

Shiba described the selection of his design for the 20th Asian Games as a deeply meaningful honour.

What are the dimensions and weight of the medals?

The Aichi-Nagoya 2026 medals have a diameter of 80 mm and a thickness of 5 mm.

Their weight and composition differ according to the medal:

• Gold medal: Approximately 265 g; pure silver plated with at least 1 g of gold
• Silver medal: Approximately 264 g; pure silver
• Bronze medal: Approximately 222 g; red brass made from 95 per cent copper and 5 per cent zinc

How are the medals linked to sustainability?

The medals are also part of the Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Recycled Medal Project, which aims to promote awareness of the Sustainable Development Goals and encourage a circular economy.

As part of the initiative, a portion of the metals used in the medals has been recovered from small electronic devices donated by participating municipalities.

This means the medals carry another layer of significance beyond sporting achievement, connecting the Games with efforts to reuse valuable materials and reduce waste.

What is special about the medal ribbon?

The medal’s design extends beyond the disc itself. The ribbon incorporates the silhouette of the kakitsubata, or Japanese iris, which is the official flower of Aichi Prefecture.

The sweeping arcs incorporated into the ribbon are inspired by the leaves of the flower. Together, the elements are intended to convey the graceful strength of athletes.

The ribbon also reflects the organisers’ desire to connect Aichi’s local culture with the wider world and ensure that elements of the region’s identity are carried forward to future generations.

What is the Asian Games 2026 medal case made of?

The medal case has its own cultural symbolism. The case features an octagonal shape on both its inner and outer sections, with the design drawing inspiration from the character for “eight”. The character has historical significance in the region, having been used in the emblem of the Owari Tokugawa family, which ruled the area that is now Aichi Prefecture. It is also part of the current emblem of Nagoya City.

Why is Japanese cypress used for the medal case?

The case is made from Aichi-grown Japanese cypress, or hinoki, giving it another direct connection to the host region.

The choice also reflects Aichi’s long-standing tea ceremony culture, in which valuable tea utensils and treasured objects have traditionally been stored in wooden boxes.

The medal case therefore serves not simply as packaging but as a specially designed container through which athletes can preserve an object representing one of the biggest achievements of their sporting careers.

What do the Aichi-Nagoya 2026 medals represent?

Taken together, the medal, ribbon and case tell a story that goes beyond the podium.

The medal’s fragmented design reflects the challenges and hardships athletes must overcome on their journey to the Asian Games. At the same time, the overall concept celebrates the diversity of Asia while highlighting sport as a force that can bring people together.

The use of recycled materials adds a strong sustainability element to the design, while the inclusion of the kakitsubata flower, the eight motif and Aichi-grown hinoki connects the medal to the history, culture and natural heritage of the host region.

For the athletes standing on the podium, however, the medal will carry an even deeper meaning. It will represent years of hard work, sacrifice and perseverance, brought together in one defining moment of achievement.

Hardik Pandya included in India A squad (Image: AP)

The Men’s Selection Committee has announced the India A squads for the upcoming home series against Australia A in Puducherry. The series will feature two multi-day matches followed by three one-day games, with the first multi-day match scheduled from September 22 to 25.

Padikkal to lead multi-day side

Devdutt Padikkal has been named captain of the multi-day side, with Sai Sudharsan as his deputy. The squad also includes promising batters Aman Mokhade, Ayush Pandey, Yash Rathod and Shaik Rasheed, while Kumar Kushagra and N Jagadeesan are the two wicketkeeping options.Shams Mulani, Tanush Kotian, Tushar Deshpande and Anshul Kamboj are among the other notable names in the multi-day squad.

Gaikwad to captain one-day team

For the one-day series, Ruturaj Gaikwad will captain the side, with Padikkal serving as vice-captain. Sai Sudharsan, Rajat Patidar, Priyansh Arya, Nishant Sindhu, Arshin Kulkarni and Naman Dhir are also part of the squad.India all-rounder Hardik Pandya has been included in the one-day squad, subject to fitness clearance. V Vyshak, also named in the multi-day squad, is subject to fitness clearance.The two multi-day matches will be played from September 22-25 and September 29-October 2, while the three one-day games are scheduled for October 6, 9 and 11, all in Puducherry.

India A Multi-day squad: Aman Mokhade, Ayush Pandey, Devdutt Padikkal (C), Sai Sudharsan (VC), Yash Rathod, Shaik Rasheed, Kumar Kushagra (WK), Shams Mulani, Tanush Kotian, Tushar Deshpande, Anshul Kamboj, Praful Hinge, N Jagadeesan (WK), Nachiket Bhute, V Vyshak*India A One-Day squad: Ruturaj Gaikwad (C), Devdutt Padikkal (VC), Sai Sudharsan, Priyansh Arya, Rajat Patidar, Kumar Kushagra (WK), Nishant Sindhu, Vipraj Nigam, Arshin Kulkarni, Arshad Khan, Naman Dhir, Hardik Pandya*, Prabhsimran Singh (WK), Gurjapneet Singh, Yash Thakur*Subject to fitness clearance.

Family is a core mechanic in Idle Mafia Game that allows players to create their own factions. Upon creating or joining a Family, players can donate money and Gold Bars to the Family Funds to unlock Perks. Working with other players is essential for a Family to claim a territory in the city and increase its notoriety. In exchange for their contributions, each Family member receives a variety of bonuses that help them increase their money gain and stats.

Let’s go over how the Family system works in Idle Mafia Game.

An overview of Families in Idle Mafia Game

The Family system works akin to the Guild system seen in most RPGs. It allows players to create or join a Family, after which they may start adding funds to the Family’s vault to unlock perks and bonuses.

To create a Family, you must not be a part of an existing Family. If you are a member in another Family, you can use the “Leave Family” option in the Family Overview screen to exit the faction. Then, you can use 10,000 Cash to create a faction. You can customize the name, description, and icon of the Family, which will be displayed to players searching for a faction to join.

If you wish to join a Family, you can view a list of available options and either send a join request or receive one from the leader of a Family. Upon joining a Family, you will gain access to its Overview, Members, Perks, Shop, War, and Audit Log menus.

Below, you can find everything these menus do.

Overview

Overview provides you with a quick look at the current status of the Family. You can check the following information on this screen:

• Name
• Creation date
• Level
• Number of members
• Number of unlocked Perks
• Family notice
• Family Vault
• Active Perks
• Occupied Territories

This is where you can make donations to the Family using Cash or Gold Bars. Cash is passively earned through Properties, while Gold Bars require you to perform a successful Heist.

Also read: Idle Mafia Game: A beginner’s guide

Members

The Members screen is where you can view the various members of the Family. This screen showcases each member’s money, Gold Bars, and Stamina donations, along with their respective ranks. There are a total of six different ranks: Boss, Underboss, Advisor, Associate, Capo, and Soldier.

The Boss, Underbosses, and Advisors have special privileges, such as being able to write the Family notice, spend the faction resources, give war orders, etc. Among these roles, only the Boss can alter some of the most fundamental aspects of the faction, such as the Family name, icon, and description.

Below, you can find the number of seats reserved for each role in a Family:

• Associate: No limit
• Soldier: No limit
• Capo: 15 seats
• Advisor: 5 seats
• Underboss: 3 seats
• Boss: 1 seat

Perks

There are two types of Perks for Advisors, Underbosses, and the Boss to unlock: Cash Perks and Gold Perks. Cash Perks can be unlocked using Cash, and they affect each member’s job cash, property income, and operation payout. Gold Perks are unlocked with Gold Bars, and they affect each member’s attack power, defense power, and job item drops with each level.

There is a third type of Perk that can be unlocked by all members through Stamina contribution: Stamina Perks. Stamina Perks affect the following stats for all members:

• Attack power
• Defense power
• Job experience
• Health regeneration rate
• Stamina regeneration rate
• Amount of Cash earned upon winning fights
• Amount of Cash lost upon losing fights
• Fight, siege, and boss experience
• Siege damage to districts
• Damage to bosses.

Shop

The Shop allows players to reserve the Spotlight spot on the Family screen for new players to discover. This involves donating either 10 Gold Bars to reserve the spot for 8 hours or 25 Gold Bars to do so for 24 hours.

Additionally, the Boss, the Underbosses, and the Advisors can buy additional member slots for 250 Gold Bars each. Up to 10 slots can be unlocked through this screen.

War

The War system allows the Family Boss and Underbosses to declare war upon another Family. This instigates a conflict with another clan, where the winner is decided based on the number of Points scored. Points are scored by Family members winning fights against the rival faction members.

Declaring war takes a fixed percentage of the net Cash in the Family vault. If the Family that declares war wins, the deposited money is returned, and the same amount is stolen from the losing clan’s vault. If a war is inconclusive, the two participating factions can sign a truce to mark an end to the conflict.

Audit Log

The Audit Log screen allows every member to view the contributions and performances of all members in a chronological order. This includes Perk upgrades, Family notices, donations, war declarations, and more. The purpose of this screen is for the faction leaders to view how well the group is doing in terms of daily activity.

Also read: Unique Roblox username ideas for new players

FAQs on Idle Mafia Game

How do I create a Family in Idle Mafia Game?

You can make a Family for 10,000 Cash from the Family screen, provided you are not part of another faction already.

How do I unlock Family Perks in Idle Mafia Game?

Family Perks can be unlocked by Bosses, Underbosses, and Advisors.

Can anyone declare war on another Family in Idle Mafia Game?

Only Advisors, Underbosses, and the Boss can declare war on another Family in Idle Mafia Game.