Manchester United face one of their toughest challenges in recent weeks when they visit Aston Villa this afternoon in the Premier League
Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim has a selection headache ahead of the clash with Aston Villa(Image: Getty Images/Pick the Team)
Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim has flirted with the idea of playing a back four over the next few weeks out of necessity. The club’s best wing-back, Amad, is away at the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) along with United’s talisman Bryan Mbeumo and Noussair Mazraoui.
Matthijs de Ligt and Harry Maguire – two players so comfortable in the centre of a back three – are both injured providing a selection headache for Amorim. Those who are available look more suited to a 4-3-3 system and MEN Sport expects the Reds to revert to that today.
Diogo Dalot will undoubtedly benefit from playing as a right-back again. The Portuguese defender tries valiantly to fit as a wing-back on both flanks but his strongest position is in a flat back four which should be used at Villa Park. Amorim will also be tempted to recall Lisandro Martinez to the team in the West Midlands considering the Argentine’s experience.
Ayden Heaven is certainly a star for the future and while this season has not reached the same heights as last year, it is way too early to write him off. That being said, Martinez will play alongside Leny Yoro if he is fit enough to play a full 90 minutes for the club.
Another star almost guaranteed to feature in the clash with Villa is Manuel Ugarte. This is a half chance for the Uruguayan with Casemiro suspended but it would take a sensational performance for him to replace the Brazilian vs Newcastle.
Alongside him in a three should be Kobbie Mainoo. Amorim spoke glowingly about the midfielder in his pre-match press conference despite his brother’s t-shirt antics on Monday night. Mainoo will not be punished for what his brother did and rightly so. A start against Villa would be a show of confidence in the academy graduate over a pivotal festive period.
Benjamin Sesko also returned to the pitch on Monday night following his knee injury suffered in the draw at Tottenham. The striker looked more confident coming off the bench against Bournemouth and now is a big opportunity for him.
With Mbeumo out, Amorim will be looking to his striker to fill in with goals for the club. Of course, it will not all be on Sesko’s shoulders and Matheus Cunha will be hopeful of building on his second strike for the Reds earlier this week.
United predicted XI vs Aston Villa: Lammens; Dalot, Yoro, Martinez, Shaw; Ugarte, Mainoo, Fernandes; Mount, Cunha, Sesko
This is how Ruben Amorim is expected to set Manchester United up for the trip to Aston Villa