Jack Butland will make his Manchester United debut when the Red Devils take on Charlton Athletic in the Carabao Cup quarter-final on Tuesday.
Manchester United will look to reach the Carabao Cup semi-finals when they welcome Charlton Athletic to Old Trafford on Tuesday night. And Erik ten Hag will be without one pivotal player ahead of his side’s quarter-final match-up.
Bruno Fernandes is unavailable due to a one-match suspension after picking up two yellow cards in the tournament thus far. In addition, Donny van de Beek and Jadon Sancho remain on the sidelines. Otherwise, ten Hag has a near-full-strength squad ahead of his team’s latest game.
The Dutchman will likely ring in the changes, considering the stature of the opposition. And several fringe and promising players should get a chance to make their mark on Tuesday. One of these players might be Jack Butland, who joined Manchester United on loan from Crystal Palace last week.
Speaking ahead of the game, ten Hag has said that one of Tom Heaton and Butland will feature between the sticks on Tuesday. The Manchester United boss said, “Tom was, many times, on the bench. He had bad luck when he was injured for the Carabao Cup, the first one against Aston Villa. Then Martin [Dubravka] was keeping and he did very well.”
“Now the situation with [Jack] Butland coming in, I have to see his performance in training. But the Carabao Cup is coming quick and then we will make a choice. Tom is, of course, more adapted to our way of play and has more connection to the dressing room, to the team, but still I have a decision to make on Tuesday. But, for me, there is no issue.”
Butland should make his Manchester United debut against Charlton, with the Red Devils lining up in a 4-3-3 formation in front of him. The backline should feature Harry Maguire, Victor Lindelof, Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Tyrell Malacia. So Raphael Varane and Luke Shaw will earn some much-needed rest.
Meanwhile, the formation change reflects Bruno Fernandes’s absence. And promising young midfielder Zidane Iqbal might have the opportunity to make his mark. Iqbal should join Fred and Scott McTominay in the middle of the park. But ten Hag does not have the privilege to make many rotations in the final third.
With Sancho still unavailable and Manchester United yet to sign a striker, shuffles will be few and far between. But Marcus Rashford will likely earn some rest, with Alejandro Garnacho replacing him. The young attacker should join Antony and Anthony Martial in the offensive unit, with Anthony Elanga an option on the bench.
Predicted Manchester United XI: Butland; Wan-Bissaka, Lindelof, Maguire, Malacia; Iqbal, Fred, McTominay; Antony, Martial, Garnacho
