Marcus Rashford, Luke Shaw, and Jadon Sancho will return when Manchester United and West Ham United face off at Old Trafford on Sunday.
Manchester United will look to continue the recent unbeaten run when they play hosts to West Ham United at Old Trafford on Sunday evening. And Erik ten Hag does not have any new injury concerns hampering his preparations ahead of his side’s latest fixture.
Raphael Varane remains a long-term absentee for Manchester United, while Anthony Martial is still some way from returning to action. Otherwise, ten Hag has all his first-choice starters at his disposal. Brandon Williams and Axel Tuanzebe are the other players on the sidelines for the hosts.
The Manchester United manager spoke about Harry Maguire and Donny van de Beek during his press conference. Anthony Martial was another hot topic of discussion for ten Hag ahead of the game against West Ham.
“I was really happy to bring Harry and Donny [on], to give them minutes, because we need them in the coming weeks. He [Donny] is not even one week in training, the same as Harry Maguire… He was long out, so I was happy to give him some minutes because you need to get in the right form. But he’ll have to work himself back.”
“Now I have to focus on West Ham United for Sunday, and then we will pick the team to start, but also to have plan B and plan C in the pocket to win that game. And that is what we need finally: to win games. And therefore we need not only 11 players, we need the whole squad.”
Maguire might not be fit enough to start against West Ham. So Victor Lindelof will likely continue with Lisandro Martinez at the heart of the Manchester United defence. Luke Shaw should come in for Tyrell Malacia, but Diogo Dalot will continue as the right-back. Meanwhile, David de Gea picks himself between the sticks.
Up ahead in midfield, Christian Eriksen and Casemiro should continue their budding partnership. So Fred and Scott McTominay will continue as the backup midfield options for the hosts this weekend. Bruno Fernandes should be the most advanced midfielder against West Ham, as he has been for much of the season.
As for Martial potentially returning before the 2022 FIFA World Cup, ten Hag said, “I hope [so]. But he is making progress. He is outside and he is working there. So, he is on the pitch, and we are waiting for his step back into team training.”
The game has come too soon for Martial. So Marcus Rashford will spearhead the Manchester United attack, replacing Cristiano Ronaldo as the central striker. Jadon Sancho and Antony will likely feature as the wide attackers. Ronaldo and Alejandro Garnacho will be among the substitutes.
Predicted Manchester United XI: de Gea; Dalot, Lindelof, Martinez, Shaw; Eriksen, Casemiro; Antony, Bruno Fernandes, Sancho; Rashford
