Antony and Anthony Martial will be unavailable when Manchester United and Real Sociedad face off in the UEFA Europa League on Thursday.
Manchester United will be desperate to clinch the top spot in the UEFA Europa League Group E when they lock horns with Real Sociedad at the Reale Arena on Thursday night. But Erik ten Hag has a few pressing squad issues ahead of his side’s latest fixture.
Anthony Martial remains unavailable due to his continued rehabilitation from a hip injury. In addition, Antony and Jadon Sancho are not in the travelling squad to take on Real Sociedad. While Antony is struggling with a knock, Sancho is recovering from an illness.
Raphael Varane, Axel Tuanzebe, and Brandon Williams are the other absentees for Manchester United. But Aaron Wan-Bissaka has made the trip to Spain and will be in line to earn his first start of the season. Meanwhile, ten Hag spoke about Sancho and Martial during his pre-match press conference.
“Jadon Sancho, he was ill. And Anthony Martial is still in recovery, in the rehab, and has to finish that. He did train this morning so we are going in the right direction. Luckily, also Aaron Wan-Bissaka is back in the squad so we have replacements. He [Dalot] is physically a really good profile and I am sure he will keep going and keep developing. That is what we demand.”
Wan-Bissaka might not make the starting lineup despite regaining fitness. So Diogo Dalot will keep his place as the right-back, considering the importance of the fixture. Keeping that in mind, Luke Shaw will feature as the left-back, with Harry Maguire and Lisandro Martinez pairing up at the heart of the Manchester United defence.
Casemiro and Christian Eriksen form the first-choice pairing in the double pivot. And the duo should continue the partnership in the middle of the park against Real Sociedad. Fred and Scott McTominay will thus be options on the bench. Meanwhile, Bruno Fernandes will again be the most advanced midfielder.
The absence of Antony, Martial, and Sancho means ten Hag does not have many offensive options at his disposal. So Marcus Rashford should continue on the left flank, with Anthony Elanga earning another start on the right wing. Finally, Cristiano Ronaldo should spearhead the Manchester United attack against Real Sociedad.
Predicted Manchester United XI: de Gea; Dalot, Maguire, Martinez, Shaw; Casemiro, Eriksen; Elanga, Bruno Fernandes, Rashford; Ronaldo
