Manchester United have five decisions to make vs Brighton – Dominic Booth

Manchester United may properly make a number of modifications to their aspect, after a two-week break from motion, once they host Brighton on Sunday.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer sprung a couple of surprises earlier than the worldwide hiatus, when he launched the likes of Paul Pogba, Alex Telles and Donny van de Beek to the beginning line up in opposition to Leicester.

United’s dismal efficiency in that 3-1 FA Cup defeat positioned additional scrutiny on Solskjaer, whose group picks have been a daily supply of criticism for some followers this season. Van de Beek specifically regarded off the tempo, whereas his midfielders Fred and Nemanja Matic have been poor.

That Solskjaer noticed match to make 4 modifications directly — bringing on Bruno Fernandes, Luke Shaw, Scott McTominay and Edinson Cavani — after 64 minutes on the King Energy Stadium, maybe confirmed he accepted his personal mistake.

Solskjaer didn’t overtly admit as such at Leicester, however it’s not ridiculous to counsel that the whole quartet might be in line to return to the beginning 11 for the league encounter with Brighton at Old Trafford on Sunday night.

Cavani has had the prospect to coach at Carrington prior to now week, with out the burden of worldwide responsibility. Fernandes got here residence early from the Portugal squad.

“We have got the Europa League and Premier League to focus on,” Solskjaer said after the Leicester loss. ”Sure, we might’ve appreciated to go to Wembley however now the main target is on the video games we have now. We’re in place within the league and we need to preserve bettering. After all Leicester are simply behind us so it will not be straightforward however we need to preserve going and get so far as doable within the Europa as properly.

“I’d’ve achieved the identical once more [with the line up] the modifications have been essential to do. We knew Paul [Pogba] would not final greater than an hour and I do not suppose I’d do something in a different way. What goes on behind the scenes is not all the time identified.”

What occurs behind the scenes will likely be important between now and the 7.30pm kick off time this Sunday, with United handed the luxurious of extra preparation time than a lot of their Premier League rivals.

They’re nonetheless sweating on the health of Marcus Rashford, whereas Anthony Martial picked up a knock on France responsibility. Victor Lindelof additionally pulled out of Sweden’s ultimate worldwide match as a consequence of “private, personal causes” in keeping with his worldwide coaches.

If Lindelof is match to play, United will certainly make 4 modifications from the aspect that misplaced to Leicester.

Pogba ought to come back in for Nemanja Matic in a extra attacking central midfield choice (alongside one in all McTominay and Fred) in a 4-2-3-1; Fernandes for Van de Beek and Shaw for Telles are simple swaps, whereas it seems seemingly Cavani will begin forward of Martial. That leaves the one query marks surrounding Martial’s place, with it doable that Daniel James or Amad will begin out vast, with Rashford unlikely to be risked coming straight again into the group.

The opposite questionable name is in aim however Dean Henderson might properly have achieved sufficient throughout David de Gea’s paternity go away absence to warrant conserving his spot between the posts.

Doable United XI vs Brighton: Henderson; Wan-Bissaka, Lindelof, Maguire, Shaw; McTominay, Pogba; Greenwood, Fernandes, James; Cavani.