Van de Beek and Tuanzebe could be in line for starts this week

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Ole Gunnar Solskjaer says Victor Lindelof, Luke Shaw and Paul Pogba are battling injuries heading into this week.

While more will become clearer today at training, United play Burnley tomorrow and have to select the team with an eye on the Liverpool game at the weekend too.

Solskjaer told the club website: “I hope all of them for Liverpool anyway. I’m not sure if they’ll make the Burnley one.”

Finding replacements

Alex Telles was among United’s star performers against Watford and will slot in for Luke Shaw at left-back.

Centre-back is not so straightforward if Lindelof is out. Eric Bailly was next in line, but he is no guarantee to start after sustaining an injury which forced him off against Watford.

This would leave Axel Tuanzebe as next in line to start against Burnley if the fixture comes too soon for Lindelof and Bailly.

The match would be Tuanzebe’s first Premier League start of the season, with his other starts coming in cup competitions.

He played well at the weekend as United kept a clean sheet and beat Watford 1-0.

Another chance for Van de Beek

United have no reason to rush Paul Pogba into action against Burnley if he is not 100 per cent.

Donny van de Beek was an outstanding replacement at the weekend, touching the ball 89 times in midfield, creating two chances, and delivering a confident and accomplished performance in the 1-0 win over Watford.

This is a great chance for Van de Beek to start his first Premier League game in over a month and build on the momentum from the weekend.

Whether he plays may depend on the system United use. Fred will likely come back in, and one of Nemanja Matic or Scott McTominay could also do so if United select a midfield four, with Bruno Fernandes in there too.

Van de Beek is deserving of an opportunity, and he will relish the chance try and make a difference to United’s league campaign.

If it goes well, it could give Solskjaer a tough selection call to make against Liverpool too. The game against Burnley would be a great chance for Van de Beek to make a case to his manager.

There is a case to say United should try and keep Pogba fresh for Anfield even if he was fully fit. If he is nursing an injury, then it becomes even more tempting to leave him out at Turf Moor and give Van de Beek the opportunity.

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