Manuel Ugarte will feature for the first time for Manchester United against Southampton at St. Mary’s on Saturday.
Manchester United will be desperate to return to winning ways when they lock horns with Southampton at St. Mary’s on Saturday afternoon. And Erik ten Hag does not have any new injury concerns hampering his preparations ahead of his side’s latest fixture.
Leny Yoro (foot), Luke Shaw (calf), Victor Lindelof (toe), Tyrell Malacia (knee), Mason Mount (hamstring), and Rasmus Hojlund (thigh) remain on the sidelines. However, Shaw, Lindelof, and Hojlund should be back in action soon.
Manuel Ugarte is in contention to make his Manchester United bow this weekend, although it is unclear if he will start, considering he returned late from international duty with Uruguay. Meanwhile, Erik ten Hag discussed several players during his pre-match press conference, including an update on Malacia.
The Manchester United manager said, “Rasmus Hojlund and Luke Shaw, they are progressing very well, but are not ready for this game. Manuel Ugarte, I think we all have seen he played for Uruguay. He returned this afternoon, he was the only player who returned today. All the other players returned yesterday, so he is available for this game.”
On Malacia, the Dutchman said, “Of course, we want to motivate him to return, but it’s not so easy when you are so long away. Over a season now from an injury to return, but he’s working very hard, he’s progressing really well in this moment. He’s making big steps, so we think, at short notice, we can expect him in the team training, and he is a talent, it’s natural. I expect also, soon, he can return into games then.”
With Malacia and Shaw still on the sidelines, Diogo Dalot will continue as the left-back, with Noussair Mazraoui, Matthijs de Ligt, and Lisandro Martinez completing the backline. Andre Onana will take his usual place in the Manchester United goal.
As for the midfield unit, Manuel Ugarte should replace the under-pressure Casemiro as Kobbie Mainoo’s partner in the double pivot, thus making his Manchester United bow. Bruno Fernandes will reprise the no. 10 role.
Marcus Rashford will continue on the left flank, while Amad Diallo will replace Alejandro Garnacho on the right-hand side. Finally, Joshua Zirkzee is an automatic pick as the central striker in Rasmus Hojlund’s absence.
Predicted Manchester United XI: Onana, Mazraoui, de Ligt, Martínez, Dalot; Ugarte, Mainoo, Diallo, Fernandes, Rashford; Zirkzee
