Confirmed: United’s team to play Everton

Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim has made one change to his side for this afternoon’s Premier League game against Everton at Goodison Park.

Having missed last weekend’s narrow defeat at Tottenham Hotspur, midfielder Manuel Ugarte comes straight back into the starting XI, with Alejandro Garnacho dropping to the bench.

Christian Eriksen and Leny Yoro were also absent for last Sunday’s trip to the capital, due to illness, but have recovered to be named among the substitutes for the 12:30 GMT kick-off.

With the look of the line-up similar to last week, Andre Onana continues in goal, behind an expected three-man defence of Matthijs de Ligt, Harry Maguire and Noussair Mazraoui.

Diogo Dalot and Patrick Dorgu should be the wing-backs, while the incoming Ugarte will likely go into central midfield alongside Casemiro.

If that is the case, it would allow captain Bruno Fernandes to push further forward and join Joshua Zirkzee as one of two central attacking midfielders in Amorim’s favoured 3-4-2-1 system, behind striker Rasmus Hojlund.

Mid-season signing Ayden Heaven – fresh from making his first United appearance for the Under-21s on Monday – features on a youthful-looking bench, which features young goalkeepers Hubert Graczyk and Elyh Harrison, Academy midfielder Sekou Kone and last weekend’s sole homegrown debutant, forward Chido Obi.

Speaking to MUTV in the tunnel at Goodison Park, Amorim explained the importance of players returning to the squad, including those who will provide extra options for him as substitutes.

“It’s really important,” he said. “Also a player like Garnacho can give us a different pace, more one-on-one [quality], so we can change the game with those players. That’s really important to win football matches.”

Everton have also made just the one alteration to their side, from last Saturday’s 2-1 win away to Crystal Palace, with Abdoulaye Doucoure returning from a one-match suspension to replace Carlos Alcaraz in midfield.

Amorim: This is a different game Video

Amorim: This is a different game

Ruben Amorim explains why Alejandro Garnacho is a substitute at Everton and shares his ambitions for Saturday’s match…

THE TEAMS

United: Onana; De Ligt, Maguire, Mazraoui; Dalot, Ugarte, Casemiro, Dorgu; Fernandes (c), Zirkzee; Hojlund.

Substitutes: Graczyk, Harrison, Heaven, Lindelof, Yoro, Eriksen, Kone, Garnacho, Obi.

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