Luke Shaw, Lisandro Martinez, and Casemiro will be in contention to feature for Manchester United against Tottenham on Sunday.
Manchester United will look to return to winning ways when they welcome Tottenham Hotspur to Old Trafford on Sunday evening. And Erik ten Hag has greeted positive updates on the team news front ahead of his side’s latest fixture.
Luke Shaw, Lisandro Martinez, and Casemiro have resumed full training, with the trio in contention to feature against Tottenham. Tyrell Malacia is also closing in on returning to action, as he continues his rehabilitation from a knee injury.
In addition, Amad Diallo, Antony, and Christian Eriksen should also be in the matchday squad after missing the FA Cup third-round clash against Wigan Athletic. But Victor Lindelof and Mason Mount remain on the sidelines.
Sofyan Amrabat is also unavailable as he is in Ivory Coast to represent Morocco at the Africa Cup of Nations. Meanwhile, Jadon Sancho will not feature for Manchester United until next season at the earliest after completing a loan move to Borussia Dortmund this week.
Erik ten Hag provided a fitness update on a few players during his pre-match press conference. He expressed his delight at having Shaw, Martinez, and Casemiro at his disposal after their long battles against fitness issues.
The Manchester United boss said, “This week in training, in the last couple of days, Licha Martinez [is] training, Casemiro [is] training, Luke Shaw [is] training. So, there are players returning, they are coming in for selection for Sunday.”
“Antony, yeah. Eriksen was ill in the week, he will return. Antony will return. I thought you mentioned longer-terms and unexpected… but they will return as well. So, Amad will return. We have more choices in this moment in the squad to put out a starting XI and create a bench [that is] stronger.”
“Mason Mount will return but take a little bit longer. There are some more, Tyrell Malacia will return as well, Victor Lindelof is also on his way back but it still takes some weeks. It takes time to get back in match fitness.”
Shaw will unlikely feature in the starting lineup but should appear off the bench later in the game. So, Diogo Dalot will start as the left-back, with Aaron Wan-Bissaka taking his spot on the right flank. Raphael Varane and Jonny Evans will pair up at the heart of the Manchester United defence.
Andre Onana will take his usual spot between the sticks before travelling to Ivory Coast for Cameroon’s Africa Cup of Nations game just 24 hours later. As for the midfield unit, Kobbie Mainoo and Scott McTominay should pair up in the double pivot.
So, Casemiro will appear off the bench later in the game. Meanwhile, Bruno Fernandes will reprise his usual no. 10 role. Alejandro Garnacho and Marcus Rashford will take their spots on the flanks, with Rasmus Hojlund spearheading the Manchester United attack against Tottenham on Sunday.
Predicted Manchester United XI: Onana; Wan-Bissaka, Varane, Evans, Dalot; McTominay, Mainoo; Garnacho, Bruno Fernandes, Rashford; Hojlund
