Predicted Manchester United lineup against Everton: Pogba to return; Martial in for Cavani

Manchester United's French striker Anthony Martial (L) and Manchester United's French midfielder Paul Pogba (R) arrive for a training session at the Carrington Training complex in Manchester, north west England on October 22, 2018, ahead of their UEFA Champions League group H football match against Juventus on October 23. (Photo by Oli SCARFF / AFP) (Photo credit should read OLI SCARFF/AFP/Getty Images)

Paul Pogba and Anthony Martial are set to return while Edinson Cavani will drop to the bench when Manchester United welcome Everton to Old Trafford on Saturday.

Manchester United will be eager to go level on points with Manchester City at the top of the table when they play hosts to Everton at Old Trafford on Saturday night. And, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer does not have any fresh injury concerns to deal with ahead of his side’s latest fixture.

There were brief worries over the availability of Edinson Cavani after he sustained a minor ankle injury last time out against Southampton. However, as confirmed by Solskjaer during his pre-game press conference, the Uruguayan striker is at his disposal. That means Phil Jones is the only certain absentee, while Eric Bailly is a doubt heading into the game due to a knock.

The Manchester United boss said in his presser, “Edinson should be available, yeah definitely. He got a bad ankle knock there [against Southampton]. Eric is a doubt but, apart from that, everyone is raring to go.”

With Bailly not looking likely to start, Victor Lindelof will continue at the heart of the Manchester United defence alongside captain Harry Maguire. As for the two full-backs, there is no looking past Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Luke Shaw, both of whom were in scintillating touch versus Southampton. In goal, David de Gea is an automatic pick.

Up ahead in midfield, Solskjaer has an important decision to make. Fred and Scott McTominay were solid in the midweek fixture, but Paul Pogba is the in-form player for Manchester United. Pogba should indeed return to the starting lineup against Everton after not playing a single minute in the previous game, with McTominay likely to make way in the double pivot.

Finally, in attack, another difficult decision beckons Solskjaer. Cavani is fit and available, but his game-time could well be managed, especially with Anthony Martial showing signs of improvement in the midweek game. Martial should, therefore, lead the line for Manchester United against Everton, with Mason Greenwood, Bruno Fernandes and Marcus Rashford retaining their spots.

Predicted Manchester United XI: de Gea; Wan-Bissaka, Lindelof, Maguire, Shaw; Pogba, Fred; Greenwood, Bruno Fernandes, Rashford; Martial

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