Joshua Zirkzee will replace Rasmus Hojlund in the Manchester United starting lineup against Lyon at Parc Olympique Lyonnais on Thursday.
Manchester United will aim to take a step closer to the UEFA Europa League semi-finals when they lock horns with Lyon at Parc Olympique Lyonnais in the quarter-final first leg on Thursday night. Ruben Amorim has no new issues to worry about ahead of his side’s latest fixture.
Toby Collyer (muscular) and Kobbie Mainoo (calf) are close to returning, and Amorim has included the latter in the travelling squad. However, Thursday’s game might have come too soon for the English international, although he should be on the bench on Thursday.
Matthijs de Ligt (foot), Jonny Evans (lower back), Ayden Heaven (ankle), Lisandro Martinez (knee), and Amad (ankle) remain on the sidelines. Meanwhile, during his pre-match press conference, Amorim provided a fitness update on de Ligt and Collyer.
The Manchester United manager said, “Matta has a problem in his foot, we are trying to assess. We still don’t have the data that he can return. Toby has a small issue in his leg so we hope to have him in a few weeks.”
Amorim also discussed Mainoo’s progress. The Portuguese tactician said, “In this moment, we have to be careful with Kobbie. He had some weeks out, so we have to be careful with his fitness.”
“We are really happy to have more options and an option like Kobbie Mainoo, with the quality that he has, he can play in different positions – he has already played as a six, as an eight, as a 10. So we are really pleased to have Kobbie Mainoo but we have to be careful, and we need Kobbie Mainoo fit and fresh.”
Andre Onana will take his spot between the sticks, with Manchester United lining up in a 3-4-2-1 formation in front of him against Lyon on Thursday. The central defensive unit should feature Noussair Mazraoui, Harry Maguire, and Leny Yoro.
Meanwhile, there is no looking past Diogo Dalot and Patrick Dorgu as the two wing-backs. As for the midfield unit, Casemiro should pair up with Manuel Ugarte in the middle of the park again. Finally, Joshua Zirkzee should replace Rasmus Hojlund as the central striker, with Bruno Fernandes and Alejandro Garnacho completing the numbers in the offensive unit.
Predicted Manchester United XI: Onana; Mazraoui, Maguire, Yoro; Dalot, Ugarte, Casemiro, Dorgu; Bruno Fernandes, Garnacho; Zirkzee
