United could have NINE players out for trip to Palace
UNITED could be without nine first-team players when they go to Crystal Palace tomorrow night.
United went into Sunday’s game against Liverpool without Anthony Martial, Nemanja Matic, Phil Jones, Matteo Darmian and Antonio Valencia.
And in the first half of the Old Trafford stalemate four more players sustained problems, with Ander Herrera, Juan Mata and Jesse Lingard picking up hamstring injuries and Marcus Rashford receiving a knock to his ankle.
If all nine players fail to recover in time for the trip to Selhurst Park, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer will have just 13 senior outfield players to call upon against Roy Hodgson’s side.
They are: Victor Lindelof, Eric Bailly, Chris Smalling, Marcos Rojo, Ashley Young, Diogo Dalot, Luke Shaw, Paul Pogba, Andreas Pereira, Scott McTominay, Fred, Alexis Sanchez and Romelu Lukaku.
Solskjaer said after the draw with Liverpool some young players will be called up against Palace and – as reported by the M.E.N. – Angel Gomes, Tahith Chong and James Garner could all travel to London.
United usually travel to away games with a squad of 20, so along with the three goalkeepers and 13 outfield players, there could be room for four youngsters to make the step up.
Solskjaer ruled Mason Greenwood out for two weeks just 10 days ago so he is unlikely to make the journey down to the capital.
The silver lining for Solskjaer is that the injuries are spread throughout his squad, with three of his injured players defenders, four midfielders and two forwards.
That means Solskjaer will not be under any pressure to start any of United’s academy youngsters in what will likely be a hostile environment away to Palace.
David de Gea will start in goal, while Ashley Young, Chris Smalling, Victor Lindelof and Luke Shaw should also keep their places.
Scott McTominay, Fred and Paul Pogba is a viable midfield three, with the possibility for Andreas Pereira and Alexis Sanchez to flank Romelu Lukaku in attack.
That would perhaps be the safest XI for Solskjaer to go with, although there is also the option for Diogo Dalot to start at right-back, Young to move into a more advanced position and Pereira to drop into midfield alongside Pogba and McTominay, with Fred remaining on the bench.
Solskjaer will hope Martial regains full fitness but that seems unlikely given the Frenchman failed to complete United’s final training session prior to the game against Liverpool.
The manager will also be mindful of risking Martial after his decision to introduce Lingard against Jurgen Klopp’s side backfired.