Manchester United XI vs Burnley: Confirmed team news, predicted lineup and injury latest for Premier League | OneFootball

Red Devils embark on new dawn at Turf Moor

Manchester United will play their first game of the post-Ruben Amorim era with a caretaker in charge at Turf Moor against Burnley.

Darren Fletcher, the former midfielder, technical director and current under-18s head coach, will oversee the senior squad following Amorim’s sacking on Monday.

The big question is whether Fletcher will persist with the back three shape, or bin it off for a more traditional defensive quartet.

The Scot is reportedly a candidate for the full interim position to see United through until the end of the current campaign, before the hierarchy appoint a new head coach properly in the summer.

As such, he will want to go strong to field a team that “reflects me”, as he said in his pre-match press conference.

It is hard to see him drop Senne Lammens in goal, but the more interesting talking point is what he does with the defence in front of the Belgian.

You would expect him to revert to a back four, as Amorim did against Newcastle on Boxing Day, and play Diogo Dalot at right-back and Luke Shaw on the left, in his natural position.

In the middle, Fletcher confirmed on Tuesday that central defenders Matthijs de Ligt and Harry Maguire were still sidelined with their respective injuries, so you can expect Lisandro Martinez to be paired with either Leny Yoro or Ayden Heaven, the latter of whom impressed in Amorim’s final games at the helm.

Into midfield, Fletcher could go for a bit more steel, but he is limited with his options.

The United legend revealed that Mason Mount and Bruno Fernandes would be back fit and available after their injury lay-offs, and while Amorim was keen on the partnership of Casemiro and Fernandes in his double pivot, you would expect Fletcher to be a bit more reserved.

That could therefore mean that the current duo of Casemiro and Manuel Ugarte continues, with captain Fernandes thrown straight back in as a No10.

United are lacking in wide areas with Bryan Mbeumo and Amad Diallo going deep at the Africa Cup of Nations, so it could see Matheus Cunha shift out to the left flank, and perhaps Mount on the right flank.

Patrick Dorgu played there - to great effect - against Newcastle in Amorim’s 4-2-3-1, but could be replaced by the returning England international.

Up top, it would be tricky to see Joshua Zirkzee usurp Benjamin Sesko, despite the Dutchman’s impact and assist for Cunha’s equaliser at Elland Road last time out.

Predicted Man Utd XI (4-2-3-1): Lammens; Dalot, Yoro, Martinez, Shaw; Ugarte, Casemiro; Mount, Fernandes, Cunha; Sesko

Injured: de Ligt, Maguire, Mainoo

AFCON: Mbuemo, Amad

Time and date: 8:15pm GMT on Wednesday January 7, 2026

Venue: Turf Moor

How to watch: Sky Sports