Jose Mourinho will be without four first-team players when Manchester United welcome Wolverhampton Wanderers to Old Trafford on Saturday.
Manchester United will be aiming to continue their resurgent form, when they play hosts to Wolverhampton Wanderers at Old Trafford. While the tie in itself is tricky, Jose Mourinho’s task is made that bit harder due to the absence of four first-team players.
Nemanja Matic is the major absentee for Manchester United, after being sent off for two bookable offences last weekend. The Serb’s absence will force Mourinho to make at least one change to the side that beat Watford, with Fred likely to replace the veteran midfielder.
The other player who is suspended is Marcus Rashford, who is serving the second of his three-match ban. Meanwhile, Ander Herrera and Marcos Rojo are inching closer to their return from their respective injuries, although Mourinho informed that the match against Wolves has come too soon for the duo, during his pre-match press conference.
“There are small things but nothing important. At this moment, Marcos Rojo is not training with the team, but Herrera is in the final phase of his recovery. Apart from them [and the suspended players], everyone is ready.”
Another player who will not be involved on Saturday is Diogo Dalot, although Mourinho insisted that the teenager, who was impressive on his Manchester United debut earlier this week, is being rested for the League Cup tie against Derby County.
“I want him in this process of adaptation. I want him to play totally fresh, so he’s not playing [against Wolves]. He plays again on Tuesday. To play for Manchester United is difficult enough for a kid who is 19 years old, coming from another country and after an important injury and surgery. He doesn’t need to face more difficulties because of an accumulation of matches.”
In Dalot’s stead, Antonio Valencia should line up on the right side of the Manchester United defence against Wolves, while the rest of the backline picks, with Chris Smalling, Victor Lindelof and Luke Shaw cementing their places. In midfield, as iterated earlier, Fred will take Matic’s place, joining Paul Pogba and Marouane Fellaini.
Upfront, Romelu Lukaku is an automatic selection. The other two spots should be taken up by Alexis Sanchez, who was left on the bench in the midweek Champions League game, and Jesse Lingard, who did not even travel to Switzerland. Anthony Martial will thus, have to suffice with a place on the bench despite his return among the goals.
