Manchester United host Crystal Palace at Old Trafford on Saturday and will be looking for a win to sign off their Premier League campaign before the International break.
The Red Devils come into the clash in great form and Jose Mourinho’s men demolished CSKA Moscow during an enthralling 4-1 win in the Russian capital on Wednesday night.
Mourinho has a number of injury problems and he could wait until the morning of the game before making decisions on up to four players.
Crystal Palace are still looking for their first points of the season and Mourinho should look to punish the Eagles on Saturday.
Defence
Phil Jones has been United’s best defender so far this season but he is a major doubt for Saturday’s clash.
The England defender missed the clash with CSKA Moscow and Mourinho confessed he had ‘major doubts’ whether Jones would return in time for Saturday’s game.
Should Jones be ruled out, it could be a chance for Chris Smalling to make his first league start of the season and Mourinho should stick with four at the back with Eric Bailly retaining his spot.
Palace are likely to play with ten men behind the ball and United would benefit from the more attack-minded Ashley Young at left-back as opposed to Daley Blind or Matteo Darmian.
Antonio Valencia was rested for the game against CSKA Moscow and will be fresh to start.
Midfield
With Paul Pogba, Michael Carrick and Marouane Fellaini all likely to be out, Mourinho has few options in central midfield.
Ander Herrera – United’s player of the season last term – has made just one league start this term but was back to his energetic best in Moscow in mid-week.
The Spaniard injects pace into United’s midfield and he can be given liscese to roam alongside the defensively-minded Nemanja Matic.
Attack
Henrikh Mkhitaryan’s performances haven’t always matched his numbers this season but the Armenian was on the scoresheet in Russia and should start against Palace.
The real selection dilemmas for Mourinho will come out wide. Anthony Martial continued his scintillating start to the season with a man-of-the-match performance against CSKA Moscow and – if fit – he has to start against Palace.
The Frenchman limped out of the victory but showed little signs of the injury once he touched down at Manchester Airport.
Mourinho may be tempted to play Marcus Rashford but Martial’s performances can no longer go on unnoticed and it would be reductive to bench him after such a fine performance.
It is an option to play Rashford from the right but he is not as effective there and Juan Mata is well rested after sitting out United’s 4-1 win in Russia.
The Spaniard thrives against defensive teams and offers United options between the lines against two blocks of four.
Up front, Lukaku – who scored his tenth goal in nine appearances on Wednesday – and must start up top.
How Manchester United should line up
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