Ole Gunnar Solskjaer made 11 changes for the visit of West Ham for Wednesday night’s Carabao Cup clash. The two sides met just four days earlier in the Premier League when Jesse Lingard scored an 89th-minute winner.
There were first starts of the season for several players, with Dean Henderson, Alex Telles, Juan Mata, and Eric Bailly featuring for Manchester United for the first time this season altogether.
In the Premier League clash last weekend, Scott McTominay returned to the side next to Fred at the heart of United’s midfield. The pair were replaced by Nemanja and Donny van de Beek for the Carabao Cup clash and the selection all but confirms Solskjaer’s thinking ahead of Saturday’s encounter with Aston Villa.
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McTominay was unlikely to feature against West Ham after a month on the sidelines but he is likely to be drafted back into the site on Saturday, with Fred also returning in place of Van de Beek.
The Dutchman was impressive in his rare start, and he was almost credited with an assist after putting Mason Greenwood through on goal with a perfectly weighted pass.
The drab 1-0 loss to West Ham did, however, show what midfield partnership Solskjaer prefers and as things stand, the infamous duo of McTominay and Fred will undoubtedly continue.
Further up the pitch, Bruno Fernandes will replace Juan Mata in the attacking midfield role, whilst Jadon Sancho’s position on the left is in danger of being filled by Paul Pogba.
Cristiano Ronaldo will almost certainly return to the side against Aston Villa, whilst questions remain over Edinson Cavani’s fitness. The Uruguay international was left out again as United crashed out of the Carabao Cup.
Another big error here about to happen. Fred should remain on bench fernandes, pogba sancho left wing greenwood right wing and ronalty forward. It will be more stronger.