While Manchester United have almost a fully fit squad to choose from, the same luxury cannot be afforded to Ange Postecoglou and Tottenham Hotspur.
Erik ten Hag welcomed back Rasmus Hojlund and Mason Mount over the last seven days.
The former made his long-awaited return in Saturday’s 0-0 draw with Crystal Palace, while Mount marked his own comeback after a month on the sidelines during the disappointing midweek performance against FC Twente in the Europa League.
Meanwhile, summer signing Leny Yoro is stepping up his Man United return too following that untimely summer injury.
As such, Manchester United will have almost a fully fit squad when they host fellow Champions League chasers Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday afternoon, even if the ongoing absences of Luke Shaw and Tyrell Malacia leaves Diogo Dalot at left-back once again.
Tottenham, in contrast, could be without three players who could realistically have made up Ange Postecoglou’s entire frontline at Old Trafford. Richarlison remains out without a return date in sight. £30 million newcomer Wilson Odobert is also unavailable.
And while Heung-Min Son has not officially been ruled out of contention just yet, Postecoglou admits that his captain may be in a race against time as Spurs look to increase the pressure on an under-fire Erik ten Hag this weekend.
Heung-Min Son a doubt for Manchester United’s Tottenham clash
“I think it’s still early days from [Thursday] night,” Postecoglou said at his press conference, Tottenham defeating Qarabag 3-0 despite going down to ten men almost immediately after kick off.
“Apart from Sonny, everyone is OK. And I don’t think Sonny is too bad. We’ve got another day up our sleeve to give him every chance.”
Tottenham will run the rule over their skipper on Saturday in their final training session before that trip to Manchester.
Postecoglou confirmed, after that comfortable win over their Azerbaijani opponents, that Son was fatigued amid concerns that he had picked up a knock.
In 18 appearances against Man United, meanwhile, the South Korea superstar has five goals and two assists.
“I haven’t spoken to him,” the Aussie tactician said at the time. “He said he felt a bit tired but I haven’t spoken to him or medicals yet.”
Postecoglou was, however, far more positive about the fitness of youngster Archie Gray while confirming that Brennan Johnson – with three goals in three successive games – is ‘fine’.
The Welsh winger was withdrawn at half-time for tactical reasons.
Erik ten Hag backed by Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou
Postecoglou has come in for some criticism himself recently after an inconsistent start to the new campaign. And he was keen to emphasise with Ten Hag following consecutive draws which have served to undo all the positivity following that emphatic wins over Southampton and Barnsley.
The Red Devils were dreadful in the second-half in Europe. Christian Eriksen claimed that Twente ‘wanted it more’ than Man United, while Ten Hag was left to bemoan a lack of ruthlessness in the final third.
“There’s always some manager under pressure. There must be a spinning board with all our faces on and, whoever it lands on, he cops it for a week or two,” Postecoglou retorts.
“I think Erik’s in a really tough job and he’s done really well. He keeps mentioning he’s won two trophies and that’s not insignificant. Everyone keeps telling me that’s all I have to do. But it’s not all you have to do because, when you do that, there’s always more.
“[Ten Hag] has done a great job, a difficult job.”
Receive a digest of our best United content each week direct to your mailbox
