[3-4-3]: Dorgu’s debut, Bayindir start and Bruno benched- Manchester United predicted lineups vs Leicester City as Ruben Amorim confirms many changes ahead of the FA Cup clash with Leicester City
Manchester United will be looking to book their place in the fifth round of the FA Cup tonight.
United face Leicester City in the fourth round of a competition they won last season. Ruud van Nistelrooy is set to return to Old Trafford with Foxes following his spell in interim charge of United prior to Ruben Amorim’s appointment.
With their league campaign already looking over, United’s priority should be the Europa League this season but the FA Cup should not be ignored.
As United know all too well, the winners of the world’s oldest cup competition will earn a place in next season’s Europa League along with the obvious glory that comes with being FA Cup winners – qualification for Europe and silverware added to the trophy cabinet would represent a solid return for a team ostensibly destined for a bottom-half Premier League finish.
Altay Bayindir should be given the nod ahead of Andre Onana. Lisandro Martinez’s injury means Matthis de Ligt comes into the back three.
Amad provides the attacking threat United need in Amorim’s system and should start at right wing-back with Patrick Dorgu handed his debut on the other side. Manuel Ugarte and Bruno Fernandes start in the middle.
Kobbie Mainoo looked far better as a No.10 than he did a striker last week and so should start alongside Alejandro Garnacho behind Joshua Zirkzee.
Predicted Manchester United Lineup vs Leicester City (3-4-2-1)
Goalkeeper
Altay Bayindir was the hero of Manchester United’s win over Arsenal in the FA Cup third round. The Turkish international is expected to start in between the sticks against Leicester City on Friday.
Defence
Injury to Martinez should see Amorim make a change in his three-man backline. He may decide to use Noussair Mazraoui as a part of the three-man backline, with Harry Maguire and Leny Yoro joining the Moroccan. The trio have to be switched on to keep the wily Jamie Vardy at bay.
This means Matthijs de Ligt will have to be content for a place on the bench again.
Midfield
Manchester United’s best player under Amorim, Amad Diallo could be stationed as a right wing-back to bring more penetration and guile from midfield. Diogo Dalot appears certain to operate from the left wing-back position. Amorim will hope to see the wing-backs stretch Leicester as much as possible and create openings in the final third.
Manuel Ugarte should operate as a No.6 in the Manchester United lineup, allowing skipper Bruno Fernandes to venture forward and stitch play. The onus will be on the Portuguese midfielder to unlock the Leicester defence. Casemiro, Christian Eriksen, and Toby Collyer should offer cover for midfield positions from the bench.
Attack
Amorim is likely to move away from the failed experiment of using Kobbie Mainoo as a false 9 in the 2-0 defeat to Crystal Palace. Instead, he could use the England international as one of the No.10s. Alejandro Garnacho may get the nod to play alongside Mainoo in advanced playmaker roles in the Manchester United lineup,.
Up top, the United boss could go with Joshua Zirkzee, with Rasmus Hojlund an attacking weapon on the bench.
Predicted United XI: Bayindir; De Ligt, Maguire, Yoro; Amad, Ugarte, Fernandes, Dorgu; Mainoo, Garnacho, Zirkzee
