Anthony Martial and Marcus Rashford should be rested while Sergio Romero will return in goal when Manchester United face Norwich City in the FA Cup.
Manchester United will be hoping to seal a place in the penultimate stage of the FA Cup, when they lock horns with Norwich City in their quarter-final tie at Carrow Road on Saturday. And, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer does not have any fresh injury concerns to contend with heading into his side’s latest fixture.
The Manchester United boss, though, did hint during his pre-match press conference that he will make a number of changes against Norwich in a bid to keep his men fresh amid games coming thick and fast for the Red Devils. Solskjaer also provided an update on the missing players from his squad.
“Are there any new injuries? No. I think we came through unscathed. It’s still Axel and Phil, they’re out. They are the only two absentees. It’s the situation we’re in, and circumstances. Of course we’re playing so many games in a short space of time, and it’s great seeing the players being in good form.”
“I know that we’ve got so many others wanting to play as well, so there will have to be a few changes, because there’s a game again on Tuesday and then Saturday. That’s the pleasure of being a manager: when to give players a chance and when to give players a rest. Because we are still early on in this restart period, and it’s going to be a long period.”
Solskjaer should make wholesale changes to the starting lineup that takes on Norwich, with only captain Harry Maguire retaining his place in the side. Meanwhile, the likes of Anthony Martial, Marcus Rashford and Bruno Fernandes could be rested against Norwich, possibly in the form of being substitutes.
The first change should come in goal, with Sergio Romero taking his customary spot in the Manchester United goal for a cup tie, replacing David de Gea. Romero will be protected by a back-line of Maguire, Eric Bailly, Diogo Dalot and Brandon Williams. Bailly and Maguire will pair up at the heart of the defence, while Williams and Dalot will be the full-back pairing for the visitors.
Up ahead in midfield, Solskjaer has the luxury of having Scott McTominay and Fred at his disposal. The duo should slot into the double pivot, with Nemanja Matic and Paul Pogba being given a bit of a breather. As for the No. 10 slot, Jesse Lingard and Andreas Pereira will be contesting for that position.
Pereira, though, is expected to get the nod ahead of Lingard to play off the central striker, who will likely be Odion Ighalo. The two wide men in the Manchester United attack should be Juan Mata and Daniel James, with Lingard coming off the bench to fill in any of the three spots behind Ighalo. Martial, Rashford and Fernandes would be the options on the bench, if required.
Manchester United Predicted XI: Romero; Dalot, Bailly, Maguire, Williams; McTominay, Fred; Mata, Pereira, James; Ighalo
