Erik ten Hag remains without a host of players as he prepares his Manchester United side to face Leeds again.
The two teams will square off for the second time in a week following the rescheduling of their first fixture with Jadon Sancho potentially set for a recall. The winger scored United's equaliser as they battled back from 2-0 down to secure a point at Old Trafford on Wednesday night.
Sancho has been out of the first-team picture for months having been sent away by Ten Hag to undergo a specific training programme. His goal in midweek could now bolster his chances of starting with Wout Weghorst potentially dropping out of the starting XI as Marcus Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho are retained.
Ten Hag said on the winger: “I think it's in his own hands. So if he wants, he can do - and this team is great to play in. It will give you joy but I really enjoy seeing him play the way he did with so much confidence, with so much belief, really direct. It was great to see him play in this attack.
“It's clear it's a difficult period that he finds himself out of. I'm pleased and I'm proud he did it. So I will back him, the coaches will back him, the team is backing him and supporting him in this process and finally he has to do it by himself.”
United remain without Antony, Anthony Martial and Scott McTominay whilst Casemiro is in the midst of a three-match ban, which leaves Fred and Marcel Sabitzer to start at the base of midfield. Christian Eriksen is also a long-term absentee.
Ten Hag has bemoaned the congested fixture list as a reason for his injured-hit squad list. He added: “With the injuries, if you see Christian Eriksen, you can't see that as an impact from the tough season, but it definitely is a tough season with the World Cup in between and a lot of overload for the players. That process is already longer term, going on that the load on the players is too much.”
Diogo Dalot has returned and has slotted back into the right-back role he has enjoyed for much of the season. Aaron Wan-Bissaka is set to drop out with Raphael Varane, who scored an own goal in midweek, partnering Lisandro Martinez at the heart of defence.
A win for the Red Devils would allow them to take advantage of slip-ups by their rivals - Newcastle draw at Bournemouth whilst Tottenham were well beaten at Leicester as the three sides push for two top four spots.
Man Utd predicted line-up: De Gea; Dalot, Varane, Martinez, Shaw; Fred, Sabitzer; Sancho, Fernandes, Garnacho; Rashford.
