Bruno Fernandes and Paul Pogba will line up in an unchanged side when Manchester United welcome Bournemouth to Old Trafford on Saturday.
Manchester United will be hoping to continue their stunning run of form when they play hosts to a struggling Bournemouth side at Old Trafford on Saturday afternoon. And, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer does not have any fresh injury concerns to deal with ahead of his side’s latest fixture.
The only players unavailable for Manchester United are Axel Tuanzebe and Phil Jones, both of whom are unlikely to be seen for quite some time. In fact, Tuanzebe’s injury-riddled campaign has been brought to a premature end. Meanwhile, Ethan Laird has been promoted to the first-team, as confirmed by Solskjaer.
“Phil and Axel will still be out for a little while. It’ll be a few weeks before Phil can start training and Axel, we won’t probably see until September. Ethan is going to join the training group now.”
Solskjaer was asked to comment on the fitness levels of the squad, during his pre-match presser. The Manchester United boss said, “I have to wait and see because there’s a couple that have got some knocks and bruises. If there are a couple of changes, don’t be surprised, not just because of fitness, but there are so many games and I have to look after the players.”
No changes are expected in the Manchester United goal, though, with David de Gea starting ahead of Sergio Romero again. In front of him, the only likely shuffle should see Luke Shaw being given a breather. However, the game against Aston Villa next week provides Solskjaer the opportunity to do so as well.
Shaw should, therefore, start at the back against Bournemouth, with Aaron Wan-Bissaka keeping his place on the opposite flank ahead of Diogo Dalot and Laird. At the heart of the Manchester United defence, Harry Maguire and Victor Lindelof will pair up once again.
In midfield, Nemanja Matic is likely to start ahead of Scott McTominay and Fred. However, there seemed to be some concern over the availability of Paul Pogba and Bruno Fernandes, with Daily Mirror running a story late on Friday that the duo had been injured in training.
The rumour, though, has since been quashed, meaning there is no need for Manchester United fans to panic. So, Pogba will start in the double pivot alongside Matic, with Fernandes reprising the no. 10 role. The attack, too is unlikely to see any changes, with Anthony Martial leading the line against Bournemouth, while Marcus Rashford and Mason Greenwood will be the two wide men.
Manchester United Predicted XI: de Gea; Wan-Bissaka, Lindelof, Maguire, Shaw; Pogba, Matic; Greenwood, Fernandes, Rashford; Martial
