Manchester United XI vs Aston Villa: Confirmed team news, predicted lineup and injury latest | OneFootball

Huge pressure on Erik ten Hag to make the right choices with his Old Trafford future potentially on the line

Erik ten Hag faces arguably one of the most important team selections of his managerial career when Manchester United head to Aston Villa in the Premier League this weekend.

With high-flying Villa undefeated so far this season and on a high after beating Bayern Munich in the Champions League, this is a team selection that Ten Hag absolutely has to get right - meaning he surely must change his leaky defence that continues to ship goals all over the place.

Matthijs de Ligt was once again subject to severe criticism for his latest below-par outing in Portugal, with Ten Hag urged to restore the fit-again Harry Maguire to his defence instead after he salvaged that late point off the bench and drew praise for his more captain-like address that followed actual skipper Bruno Fernandes being sent off for the second time in as many matches.

Fernandes will be available to face Villa after his three-game ban for a challenge on Spurs’ James Maddison was promptly overturned on appeal, and he surely remains too important to leave out despite no doubt infuriating his manager with such a lack of discipline.

Other than Maguire, United’s other options for potential defensive changes are limited with Luke Shaw, Leny Yoro and Tyrell Malacia all still unavailable. Victor Lindelof and Jonny Evans are unlikely to be turned to as starting options, while Ten Hag is very short on full-back cover with right-back Diogo Dalot already filling in on the left.

Shock switch: Marcus Rashford was substituted at half-time by Erik ten Hag against Porto

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Kobbie Mainoo trained and travelled to Porto after seemingly shaking off a knock that forced him off against Tottenham, but did not end up making the matchday squad.

The England midfielder will return at Villa if fit, likely partnered by summer signing Manuel Ugarte despite his early struggles with Casemiro and Christian Eriksen not offering any more control in the middle on Thursday.

Mason Mount missed the Porto game with a head injury sustained late on against Tottenham after he had earlier replaced Mainoo after only just returning from a calf issue, but he avoided a concussion so could be available as another option in midfield.

The make-up of Ten Hag’s attack for such an important fixture will be fascinating, with United having impressed in the early going against Porto as they went 2-0 up inside just 20 minutes before being level at half-time and then falling 3-2 behind ahead of Maguire’s stoppage-time equaliser.

Marcus Rashford opened the scoring and looked on fine form before being surprisingly replaced at the break, with Ten Hag insisting afterwards that he took the decision to rotate Rashford and replacement Alejandro Garnacho with one eye on Villa.

You would expect both to start this weekend, though the versatile Joshua Zirkzee could be shifted out to one of the wide positions if Ten Hag would prefer to keep Hojlund through the middle after he scored the second in Porto. Amad Diallo and Antony are among United’s other attacking options.

Predicted Manchester United XI (4-2-3-1): Onana; Mazraoui, Maguire, Martinez, Dalot; Ugarte, Mainoo; Garnacho, Fernandes, Rashford; Hojlund

Injured: Yoro, Shaw, Malacia

Doubts: Mount, Mainoo

Time and date: 2pm BST on Sunday October 6, 2024

Venue: Villa Park

TV channel: Sky Sports