3-4-3: United will return with a vengeance against Palace with this high-octane line-up

Matheus Cunha should be fit for Manchester United’s trip to Crystal Palace on Sunday, easing head coach Ruben Amorim’s injury concerns considerably. Cunha missed the Everton game on Monday after sustaining a freak concussion during training, which required United to follow the concussion protocol. The Brazilian is expected to lead the line in the continued absence of Benjamin Sesko. Defence Senne Lammens will continue in goal. Harry Maguire may have recovered from injury – Amorim will no doubt give an update on his status in his press conference this lunchtime – but the boss will likely persist with the Leny Yoro, Matthijs de Ligt and Luke Shaw combination. Lisandro Martinez made the bench against the Toffees but will need a couple of substitute appearances before challenging for a place in the starting line-up. Wing Backs and Midfield Bruno Fernandes and Casemiro will probably continue as the midfield pair. Amorim admitted that Manuel Ugarte is struggling for form, leaving Kobbie Mainoo as the only other option. While a Mainoo-Fernandes partnership is possible, it seems unlikely in a difficult away fixture. The four options at wing-back are Amad, Patrick Dorgu, Nouss Mazraoui and Diogo Dalot. Amorim may restore the Ivorian to wing-back for this one, assuming Cunha is back in the forward line. Dorgu was poor against Everton and could drop to the bench, with either Dalot or Mazraoui taking the left wing-back slot. Our expectation is that Dalot will be reinstated, but it could go either way. Forwards Bryan Mbeumo is a nailed-on starter on the right side of the attack. Joshua Zirkzee finally got his chance to shine on Monday but fluffed his lines badly, so he will surely return to the bench. If, as expected, Amad goes back to wing-back, then by process of elimination, Mason Mount would come in at left forward, with Cunha up top. With all that said, here is our predicted XI for Sunday’s 12 noon kick-off: Featured image Alex Pantling via Getty Images The Peoples Person has been one of the world’s leading Man United news sites for over a decade. Follow us on Bluesky: @peoplesperson.bsky.social Red Billy Red Billy is the managing editor of The Peoples Person, author of three books and two magazines and totally obsessed with football’s transfer market. Billy first saw United live in 1971, watching George Best, Bobby Charlton and Denis Law, before becoming a League Match ticket book holder from 1975/76 and a writer since 1995. Billy still insists Matteo Darmian and Alex Telles could have made it at United given half a chance.