Amad Diallo is in line to make his full Manchester United debut while Mason Greenwood and Brandon Williams should start against Real Sociedad.
Manchester United will be aiming to make it through to the next stage of the UEFA Europa League when they take on Spanish outfit Real Sociedad in the second leg of their Round of 32 tie.
Leading into the game, manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has not been hit with any fresh injury concerns. However, he will once again be without the injured quartet of Donny van de Beek, Paul Pogba, Scott McTominay and Edinson Cavani when the La Liga outfit come to Old Trafford.
“They’ll still be missing. They’ve not joined training so they won’t be ready. no. Paul has been outside on the grass and is starting to step up his recovery but he’s not near the team for this game. It’ll be more or less the same squad that we had against Newcastle,” Solskjaer said in his pre-match press conference.
With Manchester United enjoying a comfortable 4-0 advantage from the first leg and a big game against Chelsea in the Premier League up next, Solskjaer will most likely ring in the changes, giving a break to some of his first-team regulars against Sociedad.
Dean Henderson ought to come in for first-choice goalkeeper David de Gea just like he did in the first leg. There are likely to be major alterations in defence as well with Alex Telles returning in place of Luke Shaw at left-back while Brandon Williams gets a rare start at right-back in place of Aaron Wan-Bissaka.
Eric Bailly should replace Victor Lindelof at the heart of the Manchester United defence. Club captain Harry Maguire is likely to be retained in the lineup even though he is running the risk of being suspended for the next game if he picks up another yellow card.
Given the number of injuries in the midfield department, Solskjaer has little room to manoeuvre, meaning Fred and Nemanja Matic start in the pivot positions once again. There should be a change in the No. 10 role, however, with Juan Mata getting a rare start with Bruno Fernandes likely to be given a breather against Real Sociedad.
Marcus Rashford, too, should be in for a rest on Thursday night, with Daniel James, who has scored in both of his last two appearances, slotting in on the left-wing. Amad Diallo will be vying for his first start for Manchester United after having made his debut as a substitute in the first leg against Sociedad.
Addressing the matter in his pre-match presser, Solskjaer said: “Amad and Shola will, of course, be involved. They are in the squad but I am not going to tell you if they are starting or not.” The Ivorian should start out on the right flank for the Red Devils while Mason Greenwood slots in as the centre-forward ahead of the misfiring Anthony Martial.
Manchester United Predicted Starting XI: Henderson; Williams, Bailly, Maguire, Telles; Fred, Matic; Diallo, Mata, James; Greenwood.
