Manchester Evening News

Three Reds who should make return against Cherries...

- By SAMUEL LUCKHURST

UNITED host Bournemout­h in what will be their first Premier League game in three weeks today.

The Reds have a fully-fit squad – except for Henrikh Mkhitaryan – but their weary performanc­e against Southampto­n in the EFL Cup final could convince Jose Mourinho to make alteration­s.

Here are three that he should make...

LUKE SHAW LEFT-BACK is United’s outstandin­g problem position and the merry-go-round does not seem to stop for Luke Shaw to get on for a spin.

United supporters should remember Rojo ridiculed by Southampto­n and Blackburn’s Liam Feeney giving Darmian a chasing. Not a single Darmian performanc­e has merited a seven-out-of-10 this term arguably and Daley Blind still appears to be bothered by Mourinho’s criticism of him in Istanbul four months ago.

Shaw should not be ignored – Mourinho should stop the merry-go-round.

PHIL JONES PHIL Jones’ three-month resurgence has resuscitat­ed his United career.

Eric Bailly and Chris Smalling might still be retained against Bournemout­h but Jones would be an able alternativ­e. United missed his practical defending against Southampto­n and he might be a more suitable stopper alongside the ballplayin­g Bailly.

MARCOS ROJO YES, Marcos Rojo would retain his place but he should return to centre-back. Playing on the left he was rinsed by Southampto­n’s Nathan Redmond and the Argentinia­n produced a particular­ly pitiful performanc­e on the flank in his first appearance of the campaign at Feyenoord.

 ??  ?? Phil Jones
Phil Jones

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