David de Gea will make his 500th appearance for Manchester United when the Red Devils take on Newcastle United on Sunday.
Manchester United will aim to continue the recent winning run when they play hosts to Newcastle United at Old Trafford on Sunday afternoon. And Erik ten Hag does not have any new injury concerns hampering his preparations ahead of his side’s latest fixture.
There is some good news as Anthony Martial has progressed well in his recovery from the hip injury he sustained last weekend. But ten Hag did not give much away while speaking to the club media. And during his pre-match press conference, the Manchester United boss also spoke about Harry Maguire.
While the Newcastle game has come too soon for the Manchester United captain, he will be back next week. Martin Dubravka is ineligible to face parent club Newcastle, while Scott McTominay is suspended after accumulating five bookings. Meanwhile, Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Axel Tuanzebe, Brandon Williams and Donny van de Beek remain on the sidelines.
On Martial, ten Hag said, “I can’t say in this moment. It’s too early to say something about that. We have to wait, we have to see how it progresses in the coming hours. Of course, we hope he will be available but if not, we do it with other players because it’s always about the players who are available and we have a good squad, as you see, and also subs can make a difference.”
“If he is not available, then we have to do it with other players. We will have 20 in the squad and they have to win this game.” The Manchester United boss later spoke about Martial again, saying, “Anthony Martial can be [fit] but we have to wait [to see] how it develops in the coming hours.”
He then proceeded to provide an update on Maguire, adding, “Harry Maguire will not make this, but it doesn’t take long, I think. [Will Harry be another couple of weeks?] No, no, no. I think that next week he will be back in the team training or over the next week.”
Raphael Varane should have regained enough fitness to return to the starting lineup. The French defender will pair up with Lisandro Martinez at the heart of the Manchester United defence. Luke Shaw and Diogo Dalot will start as the full-backs, with David de Gea set to make his 500th appearance for Manchester United.
Up ahead in midfield, Casemiro and Christian Eriksen should form the double pivot. Fred will thus make way for Eriksen in the middle of the park. Bruno Fernandes will continue to reprise his usual no. 10 role, with Marcus Rashford and Antony being the two wide men. Finally, Cristiano Ronaldo will likely spearhead the Manchester United attack against Newcastle.
Predicted Manchester United XI: de Gea; Dalot, Varane, Martinez, Shaw; Eriksen, Casemiro; Antony, Bruno Fernandes, Rashford; Ronaldo