Manchester United have a number of injury and selection headaches as they prepare for their second game in 3 days.
The match at Everton is bound to be a difficult encounter and will be made all the more tough by the number of absentees Jose Mourinho has. From the club’s official website:
Ashley Young has been banned for three games by the FA after accepting a charge of violent conduct. Jose Mourinho has confirmed Zlatan Ibrahimovic could be out for a month with a knee problem and Romelu Lukaku will be assessed after being forced off in the first half against the Saints with a head injury. Marouane Fellaini, Michael Carrick and Antonio Valencia are all expected to miss out again, while Chris Smalling and Matteo Darmian are doubts after missing the last two games and Eric Bailly is a long-term absentee.
It means that some players will be asked to play a full game again. It should mean that Axel Tuanzebe, who was on the bench against Southampton, will finally be given a chance at right back. On the smaller pitch Daley Blind’s lack of pace shouldn’t be exposed so his selection at centre-half makes sense, while Jesse Lingard and Juan Mata have impressed in recent away games and could give some much needed fluidity to United’s front line.