Joshua Zirkzee will replace Rasmus Hojlund in the Manchester United starting lineup against Aston Villa at Villa Park on Sunday.
Manchester United will be desperate to return to winning ways when they lock horns with Aston Villa at Villa Park on Sunday afternoon. And Erik ten Hag has no new injury concerns hampering his preparations ahead of his side’s latest fixture.
Luke Shaw (leg), Leny Yoro (foot), and Tyrell Malacia (knee) remain on the sidelines and will not return for a few more weeks. Meanwhile, Erik ten Hag hopes to have Kobbie Mainoo and Mason Mount back on his matchday squad this weekend.
The Dutch tactician discussed his team news update during his pre-match press conference, which happened after the UEFA Europa League game against FC Porto on Thursday. He spoke about Mainoo during this presser.
The Manchester United manager said, “So we had three players with issues going into this game. Harry Maguire, Alejandro Garnacho and Kobbie Mainoo. Harry and Alejandro made the squad and were capable to play some minutes, whereas Mainoo didn’t make it. It was too big a risk. We have to wait and see if he [Mainoo] can play on Sunday. If he is fit enough to start or be on the bench.”
Mainoo will unlikely return to the starting lineup on Sunday, with Christian Eriksen and Manuel Ugarte pairing up in the double pivot in the middle of the park. So, Casemiro will drop to the bench, and Mainoo will also find a place there.
Rasmus Hojlund scored in his first start of the 2024/25 season, but he should drop to the bench as Erik ten Hag continues to handle his fitness carefully. Joshua Zirkzee will replace Hojlund to spearhead the Manchester United attack against Aston Villa on Sunday. Bruno Fernandes will reprise the no. 10 role, with Marcus Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho taking up the wide berths.
The backline should not see any changes, with Noussair Mazraoui, Matthijs de Ligt, Lisandro Martinez, and Diogo Dalot retaining their spots. Finally, Andre Onana is an automatic pick between the sticks for the home side.
Predicted Manchester United XI: Onana; Mazraoui, de Ligt, Martinez, Dalot; Eriksen, Ugarte; Garnacho, Bruno Fernandes, Rashford; Zirkzee
