Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag will be weighing up his options in attack when Manchester United face Omonia tonight.
With a Premier League fixture away against Everton talking place three days later, Ten Hag needs to make his selections carefully.
He is helped by the return to fitness of Uruguay international Facundo Pellistri, who is aiming to make his first team debut for the club.
This week Pellistri started away at Barrow in the EFL Trophy. He was substituted after 66 minutes in what seemed to be a pre-planned move, to carefully manage his minutes.
Alejandro Garnacho scored the winner in Tuesday night’s game and along with Pellistri he was selected as part of United’s 22-man travelling squad.
Ten Hag has two bold options
Selecting either Garnacho or Pellistri to start would be a bold move from Ten Hag, given United’s need to secure a win to try and continue making up for the opening game defeat to Real Sociedad.
United are likely to need maximum points from the rest of the games to secure first place, which would avoid playing an extra two-legged tie in the Europa League stages.
Garnacho featured as a substitute in United’s opening group game and he is on the cusp of the first team. He showed his quality in front of goal with a well-taken winner against Barrow in injury-time on Tuesday.
Speaking to the club website, Erik ten Hag said: “Tomorrow, we will play our best team and we have to construct the team because also we want a competitive culture in our team, in this club.”
A place on the bench is most likely for the pair on this particular occasion – but it is highly likely they see minutes in the second half, especially if United can move into an early lead.
A convincing victory in this game can ease the pressure on the home fixture, potentially opening up starting opportunities.
Ten Hag could call on Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho, Antony and Anthony Elanga for the wide spots, before the young pair of Garnacho or Pellistri. But it’s very possible they could have some involvement this week, especially if he wants his preferred options to conserve some energy for Sunday.
Pellistri made United’s bench in a Premier League game for the first time at the weekend. He is getting closer to the chance he has been waiting for since 2020.
Just calling the pair up to travel, so soon after the EFL Trophy game, along with Zidane Iqbal, shows how highly Ten Hag regards the duo.
Pellistri is deemed good enough to regularly start for Uruguay, while Garnacho was called up for Argentina earlier this year. A Manchester United fixture away at Omonia will hold no fear for the pair, and even if they are not Ten Hag’s first choice for tonight, they are options he will be grateful to have at his disposal, tonight and in the weeks ahead.
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