Cristiano Ronaldo and Marcus Rashford will return when Manchester United and Everton face off at Goodison Park on Saturday.
Manchester United will be desperate to bounce back to winning ways when they lock horns with Everton at Goodison Park on Saturday afternoon. And Ralf Rangnick has been handed a boost on the team news front ahead of his side’s latest fixture.
Cristiano Ronaldo is back at the interim Manchester United manager’s disposal after recovering from an illness that forced him to miss last weekend’s game against Leicester City. Jesse Lingard is also available, but Scott McTominay is on the sidelines due to a foot injury.
The Scottish international has joined Luke Shaw (leg), Raphael Varane (knock), and Edinson Cavani (calf) in the treatment room. Major defensive changes could thus be on the cards for Manchester United, with Rangnick confirming Shaw and Varane’s absence during his pre-match press conference.
“Cristiano is back again. Luke is still injured. We had to take him off at half-time and he’s having problems with his leg where had his operation back in 2015. Yeah, the doctor told me that they decided to remove that metal thing in his leg, there are two bolts that need to be removed and this will happen tomorrow and that means he will be out for the next two or three weeks.”
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“Cavani is still injured. Rapha Varane is still injured, he will be missing for the game tomorrow and the same is true with Scott McTominay, I’m afraid. He’s having problems with the sole of his foot. So those four players will be missing.”
In Varane’s absence, Harry Maguire and Victor Lindelof are automatic picks at the heart of the Manchester United defence. Alex Telles is another certain starter due to Shaw’s unavailability, while Diogo Dalot should get the nod over Aaron Wan-Bissaka on the right flank. There is no looking past David de Gea in the Manchester United goal.
Up ahead in midfield, McTominay’s absence could force Rangnick to deploy Fred as the sole holding midfielder. The Brazilian international should start alongside Bruno Fernandes and Paul Pogba in the middle of the park, with the former dropping into a deeper role after leading the line for Manchester United last weekend.
Finally, the offensive unit will invariably feature the fit-again Ronaldo, who will spearhead the Manchester United attack. Marcus Rashford should also be in line to return, replacing Anthony Elanga on the right wing, while Jadon Sancho picks himself on the left flank.
Predicted Manchester United XI: de Gea; Dalot, Lindelof, Maguire, Telles; Bruno Fernandes, Fred, Pogba; Rashford, Ronaldo, Sancho
