8 starts in 10 games: Ruud van Nistelrooy must rest 'standout' Man Utd star vs PAOK - opinion
Manchester United will welcome Greek outfit PAOK to Old Trafford in the Europa League tomorrow.
It will be Ruud van Nistelrooy’s penultimate game as interim manager before Ruben Amorim takes charge.
Van Nistelrooy must aim for three points, as United have already drawn all three of their games.
PAOK have lost two of their last five league games.
Van Nistelrooy needs to field a strong team, but Alejandro Garnacho must start on the bench.
Garnacho has bagged six goals and four assists in 16 outings. He is United’s ‘standout‘ attacking player.
He has started eight of the last ten games and deserves a much-needed rest.
Garnacho has bagged two goals and one assist in his last ten games. The drop in productivity cannot be ignored.
The Red Devils have been wasteful in front of goal, with Garnacho at the centre of their finishing struggles.
He squandered two great goalscoring opportunities in the 2-1 loss to West Ham United.
The 20-year-old struck the bar once and miscued his shot for a second chance.
He produced a disappointing display against Chelsea on Sunday. Bruno Fernandes found him with a clever pass inside the box, but he misfired his shot.
The winger was presented with another opportunity to win the game for United but failed to hit the target.
Frustration has been mounting for the winger, especially when teammates delay passes or misplace through balls meant for him.
Casemiro gave him a dressing down on the pitch after he failed to track back following a loss of possession.
A much-needed breather could be the spark he needs to rediscover his form.
Stats from transfermarkt.com.