Jose Mourinho has decided to rest veteran Michael Carrick with the Englishman not a part of the matchday squad in what is Manchester United’s penultimate fixture of the calendar year. Bastian Schweinsteiger has been named on the bench for the game while Wayne Rooney is not in the matchday squad altogether.
What The Hell! Fellaini??
— Muyiwa Olusola (@iAmMplanet) December 31, 2016
In Carrick’s stead, the Portuguese has opted to start Marouane Fellaini as a partner to Paul Pogba and Ander Herrera. Elsewhere, Anthony Martial and Henrikh Mkhitaryan start on either side of the mercurial Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who will be eyeing Lionel Messi’s goalscoring record for the calendar year.
Here’s today’s #MUFC team to face Middlesbrough… #MUNMIDpic.twitter.com/1ump6Cs3NN
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) December 31, 2016
For Middlesbrough, former Manchester United and Barcelona keeper Victor Valdes starts in goal with Aitor Karanka keeping faith in the Spaniard despite the custodian costing a point in their match against Burnley.
TEAM NEWS | Here’s how #Boro will line up to face @ManUtd this afternoon. #UTB pic.twitter.com/NitjyUowGW
— Middlesbrough FC (@Boro) December 31, 2016
Ben Gibson is likely to give Zlatan and other attackers a run for their money while the onus will be on the likes of Stewart Downing and Alvaro Negredo to provide the ammunition to the attack as Karanka aims to get one over his friend and former mentor.
