Manchester United are preparing to welcome Marcus Rashford back after the international break.
Rashford rejoined training last week and hopes to play a role in the club’s upcoming tough fixture list.
The return of a forward who scored 21 goals and provided 12 assists last season is a major boost, especially now he is injury free.
So what will United look like when Rashford returns?
The biggest change to the starting line-up is the impact Rashford’s return will have on Paul Pogba. Pogba has been playing on the left wing, Rashford’s preferred position.
Rashford will re-take Pogba’s position on the left, moving the France international back into a central midfield position.
Nemanja Matic may be the best fit alongside Pogba in a two-man central midfield. United are working on Scott McTominay’s suitability for the role, The Athletic report – but Matic is more experienced.
A midfield of Matic, Pogba and Fernandes will support United’s front three.
Cristiano Ronaldo is United’s best weapon up front and he will benefit from Rashford’s energy around him. Mason Greenwood has the spot on the right until Jadon Sancho finds his form.
When Harry Maguire returns, he will partner Raphael Varane in central defence. Luke Shaw and Aaron Wan-Bissaka both are locked into their roles at full-back while a rejuvenated David de Gea has earned the number one spot.
This starting XI moves aside both Fred and Scott McTominay from the midfield, and unfortunately for Donny van de Beek, he is still out.
United have considerable strength in depth, with Edinson Cavani, Jadon Sancho, Anthony Martial, and Jesse Lingard among the names not in this starting XI.
With a relentless difficult run of fixtures coming up, United will need to rotate the side and mix and match where possible, but this should be the team’s best set of starters. When Harry Maguire returns from injury, we should hopefully get to see this combination.
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