Mason Greenwood and Juan Mata are set to return while Victor Lindelof is a major doubt for Manchester United’s Premier League contest against Burnley.
Manchester United will be desperate to bounce back to winning ways when they play hosts to Burnley at Old Trafford on Wednesday night. And, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer continues to have plenty of concerns on the team news front ahead of his side’s latest fixture.
Victor Lindelof is a major doubt ahead of the visit of Burnley. The Swede was sent back home from training on Tuesday as a precaution due to an illness. If Lindelof is unable to recover in time for the game, Eric Bailly or Phil Jones could come into the side to partner Harry Maguire at the heart of the Manchester United defence.
While providing an update on his squad during his pre-match presser, Solskjaer expressed his relief at having Bailly, among other defenders, back at his disposal in a busy period that has stretched him for options.
“I don’t think there were any other knocks in that game [last weekend] so we should have the same players to be available against Burnley, which is positive. Of course, we are stretched and some of the players have played a lot.”
“And they’re improving for it and will reap the benefit and get stronger physically and mentally more robust. Of course, it’s great having Eric [Bailly], Diogo [Dalot] and Luke [Shaw] back in so we have got more choices.”
Meanwhile, Solskjaer should shuffle his formation, reverting to the 4-2-3-1 after using a 3-4-1-2 system against Liverpool. This change ought to result in Luke Shaw’s omission from the starting lineup, with Brandon Williams starting as a traditional left-back. Aaron Wan-Bissaka is a certainty on the opposite flank, while David de Gea is an obvious pick in goal.
Up ahead in midfield, there is no looking past Fred and Nemanja Matic to form the midfield double pivot, with Scott McTominay and Paul Pogba still on the sidelines for another month. The change in formation opens up a space in attack, which could be handed to Mason Greenwood.
During his presser, Solskjaer admitted that Greenwood is set to get more starts in the coming weeks as a direct result of the back injury that has sidelined Marcus Rashford for the foreseeable future. The Manchester United manager also placed the onus on Juan Mata to continue stepping up.
“It’s a blow Marcus [Rashford] being out but that’s football. It’s part and parcel of it. He’s been fantastic all season for us and now, unfortunately, we have to do without him. Of course, Mason [Greenwood] is going to get more chances now. Juan [Mata] will have to step up again, so there will be more chances for the ones we’ve got in the squad.”
Greenwood should start on the right side of the Manchester United attack, with Daniel James moving out to the left wing. Mata will reprise the no. 10 role, starting in place of Andreas Pereira, while Anthony Martial will lead the line against Burnley.
Predicted Manchester United XI: de Gea; Wan-Bissaka, Lindelof, Maguire, Williams; Fred, Matic; Greenwood, Mata, James; Martial