Manchester United will be eager to return to winning ways and reach the FA Cup fourth round when they welcome Brighton & Hove Albion to Old Trafford in the third round on Sunday evening. Darren Fletcher has no new issues to worry about ahead of his side’s latest fixture.
Matthijs de Ligt is the only player in the treatment room as he continues his recovery from a lower back injury. Meanwhile, Noussair Mazraoui is still at the Africa Cup of Nations with Morocco.
However, Mazraoui’s Morocco knocked Bryan Mbeumo’s Cameroon out of the continental event, although the latter will not return in time for the FA Cup clash. Amad Diallo is in the same situation after Egypt eliminated the Ivory Coast on Saturday. Meanwhile, during his pre-match press conference, Fletcher provided a fitness update on Harry Maguire. The former Scottish international also confirmed that players at AFCON won’t return.
Manchester United’s caretaker boss said, “I don’t think so. I think it’s too close a turnaround. So we’ll have the same players available for the game, as we had against Burnley, so no new additions. Bryan and Nous will not be available for the game.”
“Well, he [Maguire] has been out for a while so it would probably be looking at his load and things like that. That decision’s not been made, but you’ve seen the players come back the other night. You’ve seen Mason [Mount], you’ve seen Kobbie [Mainoo], you’ve seen Bruno [Fernandes]. There has to be some understanding of their first minutes, we might have to be careful with that process to build back in, so I think Harry will probably be in that situation for the weekend.”
Altay Bayindir will replace Senne Lammens between the sticks, with Manchester United lining up in a 4-2-3-1 formation in front of him against Brighton & Hove Albion on Sunday. The backline will feature Diogo Dalot, Leny Yoro, Ayden Heaven, and Patrick Dorgu.
As for the midfield unit, Kobbie Mainoo should line up alongside Manuel Ugarte in the double pivot. Mason Mount will reprise the no.10 role, with Shea Lacey and Matheus Cunha being the two wide attackers. Finally, Joshua Zirkzee will lead the line for the home side. So, Bruno Fernandes, Benjamin Sesko, and Casemiro will be backup options on the bench for the hosts.
Predicted Manchester United XI: Bayindir; Dalot, Yoro, Heaven, Dorgu; Mainoo, Ugarte; Lacey, Mount, Cunha; Zirkzee
