Manchester United striker Anthony Martial is likely to be benched against Norwich City, despite scoring in the midweek clash against Partizan Belgrade.
Manchester United will be aiming to get back to winning ways in the Premier League, when they lock horns with newly-promoted Norwich City at Carrow Road on Sunday evening.
There are no fresh injury concerns for Manchester United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer heading into the weekend clash. However, the Red Devils continue to be without the services of Paul Pogba, Nemanja Matic, Luke Shaw, Axel Tuanzebe and Diogo Dalot along with long-term absentees Eric Bailly and Timothy Fosu-Mensah.
Speaking of the injured players, Solskjaer told reporters, We’re working very hard to get them fit and, hopefully, we can get them back soon. I’m not going to put a deadline on it but it won’t be long, hopefully.
? between the sticks in training after being rested in midweek.
Vamos, @D_DeGea! ?#MUFC #NORMUN pic.twitter.com/9MHr3zFxnR
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) October 26, 2019
Solskjaer is expected to make a number of changes to the team that started in the UEFA Europa League clash against Partizan Belgrade on Thursday night. David de Gea, who was rested for the midweek assignment in lieu of the injury he picked up on international duty, is expected to return to the lineup against Norwich in place of Sergio Romero.
Solskjaer also spoke about the three-man backline that he has used in the last two matches and hinted that Manchester United could continue with the same tactics. “I think injuries have made us get into the position where the performances didn’t come and we had fit centre-backs, good centre-backs and quality centre-backs.”
“It just made it easier to go to a back three against Liverpool and again in Serbia. It’s just injuries have made us go into this position but it’s working quite well,” the manager said.
Manchester United are likely to stick with the three-man defence against Norwich, although there could be a change in personnel. Victor Lindelof, who was benched in favour of Phil Jones in Belgrade, is expected to return to the side, while Harry Maguire and Marcos Rojo should hold on to their spots.
Aaron Wan-Bissaka should start as the right wing-back once again, while club captain Ashley Young is likely to replace Brandon Williams on the opposite side, despite the youngster’s impressive display in the midweek.
Manchester United are thinly-stretched in the midfield department, which leaves Solskjaer with little room for rotation. Hence, Scott McTominay should feature from the kick-off once again, but Fred could return to partner him in place of James Garner, who started earlier in the week.
Anthony Martial and Jesse Lingard started their first game after returning from injury against Partizan, with the former going on to score the only goal of the game as well. However, Solskjaer is likely to bench both Martial and Lingard for the trip to Norwich, along with Juan Mata, who started in the No. 10 role.
Instead, Andreas Pereira will return to the team, operating in the hole behind the two forwards, who ought to be Marcus Rashford and Daniel James.
Predicted Manchester United XI: de Gea; Lindelof, Maguire, Rojo; Wan-Bissaka, McTominay, Fred, Young; Pereira; Rashford, James
