Mason Greenwood started Manchester United’s last three matches before being dropped to the bench for the trip to Arsenal on Saturday evening.
Against a Southampton side who play a narrow 4-4-2 system, there’s a case for bringing the Englishman’s direct running back into the side on the right of the front three.
It’s not an easy decision picking a player who could drop out to allow Greenwood back in.
Fans in favour of a more adventurous midfield duo may want to see either Fred or Scott McTominay drop out, with Paul Pogba started in the central midfield role he moved to in the first half at Arsenal.
Saints press high
Pogba didn’t play in the league meeting at St Mary’s this season.
But Solskjaer will remember what happened last time he fielded the Frenchman against the Saints, in July.
Pogba was playing in a deep midfield role and struggled against Southampton’s high pressing game.
He was robbed on the edge of his own box to allow Stuart Armstrong to open the scoring on 12 minutes.
As per WhoScored, he was dispossessed twice and had two unsuccessful touches before being hooked on 62 minutes.
For that reason, Solskjaer may prefer Fred and McTominay in his engine room tonight, against Ralph Hasenhuttl’s high-energy side.
Pogba on the left?
Solskjaer may elect to field Pogba on the left of a front three, which he has done often in recent weeks.
But Southampton may well be short in the right back position. Kyle Walker-Peters is struggling with injury and James Ward-Prowse filled the role against Aston Villa.
Pogba is capable of tormenting a makeshift right back, but it might be that the pace of Marcus Rashford would be more effective there if he was restored to the left.
At their best, Rashford and Luke Shaw can rip teams apart and that duo might be best equipped to make the most of a potential Southampton weakness down their right tonight.
Time for a rest?
Pogba has played the full 90 minutes in each of United’s last nine games across all competitions.
In this gruelling season, Solskjaer has been careful to protect his players and it might be Pogba’s turn for a rest soon.
It’s not a game to take liberties in, but in Greenwood, Solskjaer has a perfect potential replacement to come in down the right.
Rashford and Greenwood either side of Edinson Cavani up front, who scored twice off the bench at St Mary’s, would mean United pose a threat to an injury-hit Saints side.
Leaving Pogba out tonight would be a left-field decision because he has found some form of late, but if it got Greenwood back into the side, it might make sense.
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