Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has confirmed both Alexis Sanchez and Romelu Lukaku will start Manchester United third round tie at home to Reading on Saturday.
The interim boss is expected to make wholesale changes to the side that beat Newcastle on Wednesday with the pair just two of what will likely be several changes.
“There’ll be a few changes and they get a chance. Some of them are itching to play. We will get Lukaku a start, get Sanchez a start. That’s important for them because they need more game time,” Solskjaer said ahead of Saturday’s game, as per Goal.
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However, Paul Pogba, who has thrived in a more attacking role since Solskjaer has taken charge, could miss out after picking up a knock in the Newcastle game. Pogba was on the end of an wreckless challenge from Jonjo Shelvey, who was fortunate not to receive any retrospective action for the incident.
Maraoune Fellaini could come in for Pogba with Solskjaer hoping the Belgian international will get through the final training session to complete a ‘more or less full squad’.
The game against Championship opposition on Saturday could give United’s caretaker manager chance to blood some younger players, In form Mason Greenwood and Tahith Chong will be hoping to step up from under 23 to first-team duty, as well as Angel Gomes who made a brief cameo off the bench in last week’s victory over Huddersfield. There could also be starts for Diogo Dalot and Andreas Pereira.
After Saturday’s game, United will fly out for a week of warm weather training in Dubai before a crucial game away to Tottenham at Wembley on January 13th.
Man Utd V Reading (12:30pm, Saturday)
