Predicted Manchester United line-up v Roma

Add as preferred source on Google

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is preparing his Manchester United side for tonight’s Europa League semi-final first leg with a nearly fully fit squad.

Only Anthony Martial and the perenially injury Phil Jones are unavailable.

Solskjaer told his press conference that Marcus Rashford is available and is getting past the worst of his ankle injury.

Solskjaer seems to know his best team at the moment, and there are only a few big selection decisions for him to make ahead of the clash at Old Trafford.

Three big selection decisions

Goalkeeper: The first big call facing Solskjaer is who plays in goal. Will it be Dean Henderson, or David de Gea?

De Gea took over as cup goalkeeper against Granada last month. Was this just a short-term measure to keep him happy, and let him play against a Spanish side, or a sign of what lies ahead in the competition?

Last season Solskjaer changed his goalkeepers at the semi-final stage of all three competitions, with De Gea benefitting and Sergio Romero dropped. Will the Spaniard be on the sharp end of that this time around, and fill in against Liverpool at the weekend?

While easy to see Solskjaer going with Henderson, he will probably go with De Gea’s experience for this game.

Defence: This will quite obviously be Harry Maguire and Victor Lindelof, won’t it?

Let’s consider Eric Bailly for a moment. Now fit again, and in Solskjaer’s good books after signing a new contract, the Ivorian could be considered for a recall in a tournament he has played well in when called upon over the past two seasons.

Roma’s biggest goalscoring threat is Edin Dzeko, who thrives off set pieces, and Bailly is better than Lindelof at defending them.

There is a case to start Bailly for this game, even though ultimately we expect Solskjaer to go with Maguire and Lindelof.

Striker and right wing: These two positions are interlinked in terms of selection. We know Marcus Rashford will start on the left, and Bruno Fernandes in attacking midfield (sorry Donny).

This means Edinson Cavani, Mason Greenwood, and Paul Pogba are all competing for two spots.

Cavani’s big game experience suggests United should start him against Roma.

Paul Pogba is too influential to leave out, and will likely be shoehorned into a wide role, so Mason Greenwood will likely be on the bench.

Recalls

Pogba and Cavani both missed most of the game against Leeds, and while infuriating to watching supporters, they were clearly being rested with this fixture in mind.

They will return to the line-up here and so will De Gea, making it three changes to the side which started at Elland Road.

Dan James would drop out, along with Greenwood and Henderson.

There will be more changes for the Liverpool game at the weekend, with United needing to rotate for the second leg against Roma next week.

• Matthijs de Ligt pictured doing fitness work for first time since surgery on his summer vacation
• Matheus Cunha breaks his silence on Casemiro’s Man Utd exit
• As well as Tchouameni, Man Utd must target another France star who shone against Senegal
• How Sander Berge fared in Norway’s 4-1 win against Iraq amid Man Utd links
• Bruno Fernandes determined to make World Cup history
• Goncalo Ramos finds it ‘strange’ that one Manchester United player isn’t at the 2026 World Cup
• Ronaldo compares Brazil prodigy Endrick to Man Utd star Matheus Cunha
• Ruben Amorim’s official job role at AC Milan risks repeat of Man United meltdown
• Harry Maguire shares ‘the most frustrating’ thing about his England World Cup snub
• Man Utd have already made transfer approach to sign player who Sir Alex Ferguson would love
• Man Utd are already preparing for life with Mateus Fernandes, latest target ‘clicks’ with him