Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is sweating over the fitness of Harry Maguire and Marcus Rashford ahead of Manchester United’s tie against Bournemouth on Saturday.
Manchester United will be looking win their fourth away game on the bounce when they take on Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium on Saturday afternoon. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, though, has a few pressing fitness troubles to contend with ahead of this weekend’s fixture.
Victor Lindelof, Harry Maguire and Marcus Rashford are all struggling for match fitness after picking up knocks in the 2-1 win over Chelsea in the Carabao Cup earlier this week. And, Solskjaer provided an update on the trio during his pre-match press conference, with his comments suggesting that they could take the field against Bournemouth.
“It’s still early. Hopefully we can get them back on the pitch tomorrow. They got some treatment yesterday, a little bit more treatment today, a light session and hopefully they’re ready. I can’t tell you exactly now.”
Judging by Solskjaer’s words, it is likely that Lindelof and Maguire will make the starting lineup on Saturday. The Manchester United boss is likely to shuffle his formation and revert to the 4-2-3-1, just as they had against Norwich City last week, meaning Lindelof and Maguire will form the two-man central defensive unit, providing cover to David de Gea in goal.
Aaron Wan-Bissaka is a certain starter on the right side of the Manchester United defence, with Diogo Dalot out injured. On the opposite flank, Ashley Young ought to return to the lineup, despite Brandon Williams’s promising display in the midweek fixture. Luke Shaw still remains unavailable and Solskjaer was quizzed about the Englishman as well as Nemanja Matic and Axel Tuanzebe.
“Yeah, they’re not ready for tomorrow. Probably after the international break. That is always a risk if you push them back too early, but if we have the two extra weeks after the international break, they should all be ready for then.”
With Matic and Paul Pogba still serving their respective spell on the sidelines, Scott McTominay and Fred will continue in the middle of the park. The change in formation also means Daniel James and Anthony Martial are certain starters in attack, with Rashford likely to be fit enough to start. The final spot in the side should be handed to Andreas Pereira, who ought to replace Jesse Lingard.
Predicted Manchester United XI: de Gea; Wan-Bissaka, Lindelof, Maguire, Young; McTominay, Fred; James, Pereira, Rashford; Martial
