OLE GUNNAR SOLSKJAER faces a sleepless night ahead of Manchester United’s season opener – with 11 players set to miss the clash. The Red Devils play host to Crystal Palace for the 5.30pm kick-off on Saturday after their start was delayed due to last season’s Europa League run. United only played their ill-fated semi-final defeat […]
OLE GUNNAR SOLSKJAER faces a sleepless night ahead of Manchester United’s season opener – with 11 players set to miss the clash.
The Red Devils play host to Crystal Palace for the 5.30pm kick-off on Saturday after their start was delayed due to last season’s Europa League run.
United only played their ill-fated semi-final defeat to Sevilla just under five weeks ago with their pre-season plans taking a monster hit.
With just one week of training under their belts, coupled with a bout of Nations League ties, United stars risk not being ready.
Centre-back Axel Tuanzebe is certain to miss the game at Old Trafford as he recovers from injury.
Mason Greenwood, too, looks unlikely to play after being told to train alone since his England fiasco.
The forward, 18, was sent home along with Phil Foden by the Three Lions after breaking Covid-19 restrictions by inviting two Icelandic girls into the squad hotel.
Elsewhere in the United squad, several other players have only arrived for training in recent days and are unlikely to be match-fit for Palace.
Bruno Fernandes only touched down in Carrington at the weekend.
Paul Pogba, Juan Mata, Fred, Eric Bailly and Nemanja Matic only returned on Monday.
Aaron Wan-Bissaka also began his pre-season at the start of the week after a trip to Dubai caught the right-back on the wrong side of the Government’s quarantine guidelines.
Fellow defender Phil Jones is also a fitness doubt while Sergio Romero has not yet returned for training after being relegated to third-choice goalkeeper.
That could force Solskjaer into starting Daniel James and Jesse Lingard at Old Trafford.
Academy product Lingard, 27, could play ahead of Scott McTominay and new signing Donny van de Beek in the more advanced of the three central positions.
Wantaway full-back Diogo Dalot is in line to start with Luke Shaw, Harry Maguire and Victor Lindelof in defence.
Up front, Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial are set to be fit enough to start after the England forward skipped his country’s games – citing a lack of fitness.
Fans also eagerly await the decision between the posts with both David De Gea and Dean Henderson fit and available for selection.
Solskjaer will be desperate for improvement after a 1-0 defeat to Aston Villa in their only pre-season friendly.
