Paul Pogba is in line to return to Manchester United 's starting XI after a three-month absence on Friday.
The Red Devils welcome Championship outfit Middlesbrough to Old Trafford in the fourth round of the FA Cup, a historic competition which is of great significance to Ralf Rangnick 's side this season, according to ex-captain Bryan Robson.
Having gone without a trophy for almost five years, United are desperate to update their trophy cabinet and have been buoyed by the return of Pogba, who last played in Ole Gunnar Solskjaer 's penultimate match as manager - a dramatic 2-2 draw with Atalanta.
Successor Rangnick - who will only have the next five months to win something at Old Trafford due to his interim role - has spent the past fortnight plotting the Red Devils' resurgence, while his players enjoyed the winter break or embarked on international duty.
Join the debate! Who should Rangnick start against Middlesbrough? Let us know your XI below.
With seven games across 22 days in February, including a Champions League round-of-16 clash with Atletico Madrid, United will need the likes of the Pogba to be on top form if they are to salvage anything from a dismal campaign.
The Frenchman could be one of Rangnick's chosen 11 for the Middlesbrough meeting, expected to start in midfield alongside Scott McTominay and Bruno Fernandes.
The three will likely supplement an attacking trio made of Jadon Sancho, Cristiano Ronaldo and Marcus Rashford, the latter of whom scored a 93rd-minute winner to give the Reds Devils a vital 1-0 win at home to West Ham last time out.
Sancho, meanwhile, has missed the last two matches due to personal reasons but is now back in contention.
That is much like left-back Luke Shaw, who has recovered from a hamstring injury.
Shaw is set to be joined by Diogo Dalot in defence, with centre-backs Raphael Varane and Harry Maguire looking to record successive clean sheets before turning to Premier League action at Burnley next Tuesday.
David de Gea, who was recently handed his third consecutive Player of the Month award by fans, is set to be given a rest which will allow back-up goalkeeper Dean Henderson to get some game-time between the posts.
Academy starlet Hannibal Mejbri may also make an appearance, with Rangnick confirming to MUTV that the 19-year-old is now a fully-fledged member of the senior squad.
"We have Hannibal included in the squad," the acclaimed German coach explained. "He will, from now on, regularly train with us and be a regular member of the squad. He will also be part of the squad for tomorrow's cup game.
"To be honest, I haven't seen that much of him as he was with the national team. I saw him play in the tournament, not the Africa Cup of Nations but the one before [the Arab Cup].
"I saw him play in the final and, from what I've seen so far, I think he's a promising talent. He deserves to be part of the group for the rest of the season and also part of the group for tomorrow's game."
As for absentees, Rangnick revealed in his pre-match press conference: " Edinson Cavani will only return at the weekend, he contacted me at the weekend and asked to have two more days at home - I knew he couldn't be in the starting 11 with jet lag.
"Victor Lindelof has been ill the whole week and not training. Eric Bailly came back yesterday, he has some problems with his ankle and will not be part of the squad.
"Luke Shaw will be playing because Alex Telles played 90 minutes for Brazil."
Meanwhile, Jesse Lingard has been given time off to clear his head after failing to secure a deadline-day loan move to Newcastle.
"Jesse asked if we could give him a couple of days off to clear his mind," Rangnick added. "He will be back in training on Monday and part of the whole squad."
Man Utd predicted XI vs Middlesbrough (4-2-1-3): Henderson; Dalot, Maguire, Varane, Shaw; McTominay, Pogba; Fernandes; Sancho, Ronaldo, Rashford
