Disaster has struck Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim and his already threadbare squad this week as four new injuries have been picked up.
With Marcus Rashford, Tyrell Malacia and Antony having left on loan and Luke Shaw, Jonny Evans and Mason Mount still injured, the last thing United could have afforded was another injury, let alone four.
News broke yesterday that Amad has suffered an ankle ligament injury that may end his season and that Kobbie Mainoo also picked up an injury in training that will keep him out of action for three weeks or more.
Amorim also confirmed that Manu Ugarte and Toby Collyer are also struggling to be fit for this afternoon’s game.
If they don’t make it, there will only be 13 outfield players available to Amorim who have ever played for the first XI before.
Despite two of those being midfielders in Christian Eriksen and Casemiro, we suspect that they will both start on the bench.
With Casemiro almost certainly short of match fitness and Eriksen lacking the pace to cover for him, Bruno Fernandes could play in midfield once again, possibly partnering Noussair Mazraoui, who played the role 44 times for Ajax earlier in his career.
The back three would then probably be Matthijs de Ligt, Harry Maguire and Leny Yoro, although a ring-rusty Victor Lindelof should be available and new signing Ayden Heaven could also be in the mix.
The wing backs will be Diogo Dalot and another new signing, Patrick Dorgu, who impressed on his debut last Friday. Who will play on which flank is hard to predict; Dorgu is a leftie and Dalot better on the right, but they were reversed last week.
Up front, unless Fernandes does play higher up the pitch, there is only Alejandro Garnacho, Rasmus Hojlund and Josh Zirkzee available.
Andre Onana will be in goal.
Several academy stars have travelled with the squad, including Chido Obi, Sékou Koné, Harry Amass, Jack Moorhouse and Elyh Harrison. So there is an excellent chance of at least one debut today, with Heaven also yet to take to the field in a red shirt.
The bench could therefore be: Bayindir, Lindelof, Heaven, Amass, Casemiro, Eriksen, Moorhouse, Koné and Obi. Fans who follow the academy will be itching to see the latter grab a debut at the tender age of 17.
Here, then, is our predicted line up for the 4.30pm GMT kick off:
Featured image Gareth Copley via Getty Images
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Red Billy
Red Billy is the managing editor of The Peoples Person, author of three books and totally obsessed with football’s transfer market. Billy still insists Matteo Darmian and Alex Telles could have made it at United given half a chance.
