Manchester United play the club’s fourth game since the restart on Tuesday night when we face Brighton.
The match promises to be a tough test, with the Seagulls beating Arsenal and drawing with Leicester City since the restart.
They have also had seven days rest in preparation for this home fixture, while many of United’s players featured in the FA Cup quarter-final on Saturday which went to extra-time.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer did rotate the team with an eye on this game, but many of the players who he would have preferred to rest entirely, ended up coming off the bench.
Fernandes dilemma
United were outstanding in last Wednesday’s home v Sheffield United. In that game we appeared close to finding our first choice XI.
It would be an easy choice for Solskjaer to send out the same team, but there could be one change.
Bruno Fernandes looked like he was running on empty at times against Norwich, with his usual silky touch deserting him.
United have a big squad, but one of the problems was that Fernandes’ possible stand-ins, Juan Mata and Jesse Lingard, did themselves no favours against Norwich.
While Andreas Pereira is an option, (for more detail on this click here) a simpler and better solution is staring United in the face.
This would involve moving Paul Pogba into the attacking midfield role, and selecting one of Fred or Scott McTominay to partner Nemanja Matic.
United could pick Fernandes, but that would simply kick the issue of his need for a rest over to another time.
It may be the right time to trial Pogba in an attacking role, and bring Fernandes off the bench if need be.
This XI would see recalls for Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Victor Lindelof and David de Gea, who all sat out the weekend cup-tie.
United have lost our last two games at the Amex, although this will be Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s first visit there as manager.
Earlier in the season United beat Brighton 3-1, with Andreas Pereira, Scott McTominay and Marcus Rashford scoring, and the margin of victory could easily have been more.
We will need to be a lot sharper than we were at Carrow Road, and a win here can put Chelsea under a little pressure ahead of their game away at West Ham a day later.
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