Anthony Martial is set to miss out with an injury while Odion Ighalo and Mason Greenwood are in line to start for Manchester United against Everton.
Manchester United will be aiming to close the gap to the top four in the Premier League when they face of against Everton at Goodison Park on Sunday afternoon. And manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer could be without the services of in-form striker Anthony Martial for the trip to Merseyside.
Martial missed the midweek game against Club Brugge due to a thigh injury. Providing an update on the Frenchman after that game, Solskjaer had said, “He went off [during] training yesterday and had treatment. He reported this morning and had a fitness test. It’s not his hamstring, it’s his thigh, in and around the knee.”
And as per latest reports from the Manchester Evening News, Martial hasn’t joined with the rest of the squad at The Lowry Hotel ahead of their trip to Everton. Martial joins fellow forward Marcus Rashford on the sidelines, while Paul Pogba also remains unavailable. Axel Tuanzebe and Timothy Fosu-Mensah are inching closer to a return though.
Having enjoyed great success in the last two matches, Solskjaer is unlikely to tinker much with the formation or personnel at Goodison Park. There will be the customary change in goal as David de Gea reclaims his spot from Sergio Romero after sitting out of the Europa League encounter.
Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Luke Shaw are enjoying a great run of form and should be stuck with as the full-backs, meaning Brandon Williams misses out again. Manchester United captain Harry Maguire is a guaranteed starter at the heart of the defence and could be partnered by Victor Lindelof, with Eric Bailly, who impressed in midweek, set to make way.
The midfield department has been significantly boosted by the return of Scott McTominay. The Scotsman was in his elements against Club Brugge on Thursday, but could be given a breather here by Solskjaer, given that he has only made his comeback from injury recently. Nemanja Matic, who has been in fine form himself, should return to the side to partner Fred in midfield.
Bruno Fernandes has made a huge difference to this Manchester United since joining the club in January. The Portuguese playmaker should continue to operate in the No. 10 role for the Red Devils, while Daniel James should be retained on the left flank on Sunday.
Juan Mata had a good game against Club Brugge, but the Spaniard, in all likelihood, will make way for academy product Mason Greenwood, who was exceptional in last week’s Premier League game against Watford. The youngster will slot in on the right-wing.
With Martial’s involvement under a huge cloud of uncertainty, January signing Odion Ighalo could be set to make his first Premier League start for Manchester United at Everton after grabbing his first goal for the club in midweek against Brugge.
Manchester United Predicted XI: de Gea; Wan-Bissaka, Lindelof, Maguire, Shaw; Fred, Matic; Greenwood, Fernandes, James; Ighalo
