With a 4-1 aggregate lead over Real Betis, Manchester United will be confident of being in the draw for the next round of the Europa League. Erik ten Hag's side cruised to a comfortable win in the first leg of their last-16 tie last week and they know that they should progress at the expense of the La Liga outfit.
United weren't able to find a way past Southampton in their Premier League clash at the weekend, with the Old Trafford encounter finishing goalless. Reds midfielder Casemiro was sent off in the match and will miss the next four domestic games, so the Brazilian ace will feature against Betis in midweek.
Ten Hag, regardless of the competition or opposition, has always gone strong with his team selection. Regardless of the fact the Reds boast a commanding lead over Thursday night's opponents, the Dutchman is expected to field a side full of first-team stars. In some ways, though, he is limited in what he can do by the number of injuries.
ALSO READ: Pellegrini sends Man United warning ahead of Real Betis second leg
The Reds manager will be without Alejandro Garnacho, Antony and Anthony Martial for the clash against Manuel Pellegrini's side - with all three attackers sidelined through injury or illness.
Garnacho came off injured at the weekend after a sliding tackle by Kyle Walker-Peters. The youngster played on for seven minutes, but was eventually substituted in the 91st minute. He sustained an ankle injury and left Old Trafford on crutches.
He will not play in either of United's remaining matches this month or in Argentina's friendlies against Panama and Curacao. Ten Hag admitted he was unhappy with the challenge that has ruled Garnacho out for a number of weeks.
Antony's illness cannot be helped, but Martial, on the other hand, has been unavailable for 29 games this season with five different absences, including hip, back, Achilles and hamstring problems. He has not completed the full 90 minutes for the Reds since September 2021 and has gone beyond 72 minutes in only two of his 25 appearances across the previous two seasons.
MEN Sport understands that United have prioritised a new goalscorer in the summer transfer window. The Reds are interested in Napoli striker Victor Osimhen and are long-time admirers of Tottenham talisman Harry Kane. Meanwhile, Ten Hag has been impressed by Benfica's Goncalo Ramos and believes Ajax frontman Mohammed Kudus could excel in the Premier League.
With the club open to selling Martial, and the future of Wout Weghorst unclear, the Reds clearly need reinforcements up front - and Ten Hag will certainly get a new frontman, whoever that may be. Despite this, the absence of Garnacho and Antony for the clash with Betis shows that United can't forget to look at their squad depth.
United are prepared to let Facundo Pellistri and Anthony Elanga head out on loan next season, but with a plethora of wingers in their ranks, there is no need to strengthen in that specific area. Instead, the Reds should look in-house.
Amad has thrived since joining Championship side Sunderland on loan last summer, with the 20-year-old registering eight goals and three assists in 31 appearances. He made a slow start to life with the Black Cats, but since finding his rhythm he has more than demonstrated that he is capable of doing a job for United next season.
His appearances this term have come from a variety of different positions, too. He has predominantly played as a right winger, but the Ivory Coast international has also played as a central striker and as a No.10 - where he managed two goals in six games. Amad's versatility will be a massive boost for Ten Hag next term - if he chooses to keep him at Old Trafford.
Marcus Rashford can easily fill in as a striker when, or if, the new summer arrival is unavailable for whatever reason, but having Amad in the ranks would take some of the pressure off of Jadon Sancho and Antony.
Ten Hag spoke last November about needing reinforcements in attack, and while he got Weghorst on loan in January, it was - and is - clear that United needed a new forward ahead of next season. It could be Osimhen, or it might even be Kane. For Amad, though, it is important that he gets his chance at Old Trafford, regardless of who comes through the door.
There are enough examples from this season to show that United would have benefitted from having him around, but he has performed well at Sunderland and it has helped his development. However, the attacker will be keen to become a regular with the Reds next season - and Ten Hag must trust that he is capable of doing that.
READ NEXT:
