Manchester United travel to Bournemouth on Sunday with Michael Carrick facing major calls over Lisandro Martinez and Marcus Rashford, whose availability should become clearer at the head coach’s 1.30pm press conference on Friday – follow it live here at The Peoples Person.
The stakes could hardly be higher after Wednesday’s 4-1 defeat by Como. Carrick is under severe pressure and is expected to remain in charge for the Bournemouth game, but another poor result could leave his position untenable.
Bournemouth fitness picture shapes Carrick’s choices
Kobbie Mainoo, Luke Shaw, Manuel Ugarte, Patrick Dorgu and Benjamin Sesko are not expected to make the trip, limiting Carrick’s options through the spine of the side.
It was relayed by The Peoples Person on Tuesday that Mainoo was facing around another 10 days out and Shaw would be unavailable for longer. Carrick also confirmed at that stage that Rashford was managing a hip problem, while Martinez’s issue was not considered serious.
Goalkeeper and Defence
Senne Lammens should retain his place in goal.
Diogo Dalot and Noussair Mazraoui will probably be the full-backs, although it’s unclear who will play on the right and who will be at left-back. They swapped sides at half-time against Como, so it could go either way.
Martinez, if fit, is predicted to return alongside Leny Yoro, who is available again after serving a suspension against Como. That would mean Harry Maguire and Matthijs de Ligt dropping out after starting together on Wednesday and struggling to contain Como.
Carrick could retain Maguire and De Ligt if Martinez is not ready, but he would need a considerably more assured display from the experienced pair.
Ayden Heaven is another option in defence if he has recovered from illness.
Midfield
Carlos Baleba should come back into the starting XI after being rested against Como. Andrey Santos has not done enough with his recent opportunities to justify keeping that place for such an important fixture.
Youri Tielemans is expected to move back into central midfield alongside Baleba. Carrick’s experiment with the Belgian operating higher up the pitch has pushed Bruno Fernandes either to the right or into a false-nine role without producing the required improvement.
Restoring Fernandes to his familiar number 10 position should give United a clearer structure. It would also place the captain closer to Bryan Mbeumo, who is again expected to lead the line while Sesko remains unavailable.
Attack
Amad appeared from the bench on Wednesday and was the only player to derive some credit from the game. He should return to the right wing at Bournemouth.
The left-wing role could hinge on Marcus Rashford’s fitness.
Marcus Rashford is likely to return to the left-wing if available. If he is not fit enough to start, Matheus Cunha will probably continue despite a reported row with the manager after being substituted at half-time on Wednesday. Mason Mount and Shea Lacey are also wing options.
Carrick seems determined to reinvent Mount as a central midfielder but with his job now firmly on the line, he may abandon that project and play him higher up the pitch.
Final Thoughts
- Maguire and De Ligt to be rested.
- Santos and Mount to be replaced by Baleba and Tielemans in midfield.
- Amad and Rashford restored to starting XI, Fernandes in the 10.
Featured image by Angel Martinez via Getty Images
1 comment
Remove Maxrsoui and let Heaven play L fullback. Leave Mount out. Baleba must start. Change the formation to 4 3 3. With Bruno dropping in a deeper role alongside Baleba and Tielemans. Front 3 – Rashford Mbeumo and Cunha.