Manchester United were hit with a triple dose of bad injury news leading as much as their clash with Leeds on Wednesday. It isn’t all doom and gloom for the Red Devils, nevertheless, as Erik ten Hag could fill the vacancies with players in need of an enormous performance, providing them with an enormous stage on which to endear themselves to fans.
While addressing the media on Tuesday, Ten Hag confirmed that neither Scott McTominay nor Anthony Martial had made it back to match fitness in time to face the Whites. Antony can also be set to miss the high-stakes showdown, with no love lost between the 2 sets of fans.
The Brazilian has laid claim to the right-wing starting spot since completing an £84million move from Ajax in the summertime, despite dividing opinion together with his flamboyant but sometimes ineffective sort of play.
His absence on the best wing could see Ten Hag revert to a protected option by playing Bruno Fernandes out wide, however the Dutchman could also gamble, with each Jadon Sancho and Facundo Pellistri desirous to bank first-team minutes.
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It stays to be seen whether Ten Hag is enticed by either of the 2 higher-risk options on the best flank, or whether he plays the experienced head of Fernandes as an alternative. The Dutchman is prone to be forced right into a midfield gamble, nevertheless, with Christian Eriksen and Scott McTominay injuries adding to the shortage brought on by Casemiro’s suspension.
A primary start could due to this fact be handed to January signing Marcel Sabitzer. Snapped up on loan from Bayern Munich, the 28-year-old only began seven Bundesliga games this term before heading to Old Trafford, and although his CV is impressive, throwing him in amongst a hostile atmosphere could go one among two ways.
Still, the circumstances give Ten Hag little selection but to see what the Austrian is manufactured from, while Sancho or Pellistri may be subject to an identical acid test.
