Manchester United make the trip to Elland Road to face Leeds United in the Premier League on Sunday and Ruben Amorim will have difficult decisions to make with short numbers
Ruben Amorim has some tough decisions to make(Image: Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images)
Ruben Amorim will have some big decisions to make for his Manchester United starting lineup when they travel to Elland Road on Sunday. The Red Devils will be hoping to bounce back after dropping points against the Premier League’s bottom side, Wolves.
Portuguese coach Amorim will have limited options to choose from for the trip to Yorkshire, however. United will take a depleted squad after Bruno Fernandes, Harry Maguire, Matthijs de Ligt and Mason Mount have all picked up injuries for the busiest period of the season.
To compound matters, Amorim can still not choose Bryan Mbeumo, Amad or Noussair Mazraoui after they progressed to the last-16 at AFCON with Cameroon, Morocco and Ivory Coast. United’s boss relented in his tactical rigidity to change formation for a 1-0 win over Newcastle on Boxing Day.
A 1-1 draw against Wolves quickly dispelled any hint that Amorim would stick with a back four permanently. The 40-year-old may have it on his mind to swap back to the system when playing old rivals Leeds, however.
United’s boss has admitted he is short of options. “You can see the squad, it is impossible and we cannot stretch the players that we don’t have at the moment,” he said.
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“I will try to put together a team that is ready to cope with that. I will try to read the game and try to understand what I should do to help them.”
Senne Lammens is an obvious choice in goal after starting 13 games on the bounce since making his debut in October. Those ahead of him are less certain.
But Amorim could be wise to switch to what worked so well against Newcastle and to utilise a back four. That could see Diogo Dalot, the increasingly impressive Ayden Heaven, Lisandro Martinez and Luke Shaw line up.
Ayden Heaven was man of the match for Manchester United against Newcastle(Image: Ash Donelon/Getty Images)
With more bodies in advanced positions, Casemiro and Manuel Ugarte should form the base of midfield, with few alternative options outside of academy products. Jack Fletcher was chosen from the bench last time out.
Ahead of them, Patrick Dorgu and Matheus Cunha can attack from the flanks. The former has transformed into a goal threat since being moved further up the field.
Joshua Zirkzee, widely linked to a move before January arrived, should offer some support to lead man Benjamin Sesko. The Dutch star will hope to get on the scoresheet once again.
Predicted Manchester United XI: Lammens; Dalot, Heaven, Martinez, Shaw; Casemiro, Ugarte; Dorgu, Zirkzee, Cunha; Sesko
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