Alejandro Garnacho might replace Marcus Rashford, while Wout Weghorst will make his Manchester United debut against Crystal Palace.
Manchester United will hope to continue the recent winning run when they take on Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park on Wednesday evening. And Erik ten Hag has a few pressing issues hampering his preparations ahead of his side’s latest fixture.
The Manchester United manager is sweating over the fitness of Anthony Martial. The Frenchman went off at half-time in the Manchester Derby and is doubtful for Wednesday. In addition, ten Hag will be concerned about Marcus Rashford’s fitness.
The English international seemed to have picked up an injury in the first half against Manchester City. But he soldiered on and scored the match-winner late in the game. While ten Hag did not speak about Rashford in his pre-match press conference, he commented on Martial.
“I hope to avoid that he [Martial] was getting injured [by bringing him off]. He was complaining, so that’s why he also didn’t train in the week and why he was a question mark. He and we both decided that he had to start because his start would be so important in this game [against City] with his pace.”
“Especially with pressing, he is really good and he is a really big element in our pressing, I needed that before half-time. We decided, and he decided as well… he begged to start because I knew the start would be so important in this game. Especially because he is really good with his pressing and he is a really big element in our pressing, and he did that really well before half-time.”
“But also you saw he was not capable to go 100 per cent and that’s what you need. Also, to avoid him getting injured, we took him off, and it also had an impact on our game, a negative impact after half-time.”
Judging by ten Hag’s comments, it seems unlikely that Martial will start against Crystal Palace. So Wout Weghorst will make his Manchester United debut on Wednesday, leading the line in the final third. Meanwhile, ten Hag might look to manage Rashford’s minutes. So Alejandro Garnacho will likely start on the left flank, with Antony coming in on the right wing.
Christian Eriksen might also be due some rest, like Rashford. So Fred should line up alongside Casemiro in the double pivot in the middle of the park. And Bruno Fernandes will be the most advanced midfielder for the visitors on Wednesday.
Raphael Varane is another player whose minutes ten Hag needs to manage. So Harry Maguire will likely line up alongside Lisandro Martinez in the central defensive pairing. And Luke Shaw and Aaron Wan-Bissaka should be the two full-backs. Finally, David de Gea picks himself between the sticks.
Predicted Manchester United XI: de Gea; Wan-Bissaka, Maguire, Martinez, Shaw; Casemiro, Fred; Antony, Bruno Fernandes, Garnacho; Weghorst
