Following a drab goalless draw against bitter rivals Liverpool last time out in the league, the Manchester United fans here in the Transfer Tavern will be hoping for a display similar to the start of the season against newly promoted Huddersfield.
United currently trail Manchester neighbours, City, by two points and will be hoping to get the three points in the bag at weekend. Blighted by injury concerns across the team, many of our punters still think they have a strong squad to choose from and one that is more than capable of putting the Terriers to the sword.
In the past two matches, United have looked laboured and missing the spark that has made them – amongst many pundits – one of the favourites for the title early on.
Huddersfield away will provide United with another tough test and our landlord believes with this starting eleven, Mourinho’s men should blow away their opposition and regain that early season swagger.
David De Gea
Unless he’s injured or it’s a cup match, it’s a knocking bet that De Gea is going to be United’s number one name on the team sheet. Regarded as one of the world’s best keepers, it’s no wonder he’s kept so many clean sheets this season already and he’ll be looking to add to this at weekend.
Antonio Valencia
The stand-in captain midweek, Valencia is proving to be one of the Premier League’s, if not one of Europe’s best right back at the minute. Powerful and always in full control, the Ecuadorian has made the switch from right wing to fullback seamlessly and, with no real competition for his place, you can’t see him not being ever-present this season in what is looking like a solid defence.
Chris Smalling
A decent display midweek against Benfica may get him the nod ahead of Victor Lindelof in Eric Bailly’s absence. While Lindelof is still adapting to life on these shores, Smalling still has to prove why he should be higher up the pecking order as Bailly’s partner in the centre of defence.
Another good performance can only help his cause.
Phil Jones
Ruled out midweek due to ongoing knee issues, Jose Mourinho expects Jones to be back this week. The England international has forced his way back into the Portuguese’s plans this season with some decent displays and he’ll hope to continue this form at the weekend.
Ashley Young
The ever-rotating role of left-back this season would see Young be given another chance to make a play to make this spot his own. Daley Blind and Luke Shaw have failed to impress Mourinho enough to make one of them a given on the team sheet and, with the returning Rojo coming back from injury soon, one of them must step up to the plate sharpish.
Nemanja Matic
The Serbian is in terrific form this season for the Red Devils, the former Chelsea man is ever present in the team this year and, while his midfield partner role is up for grabs while Paul Pogba is out injured, his place is never in doubt.
Another commanding performance can only cement is place further within the team.
Ander Herrera
Last season’s Player of the Year has been a sound stand in for the injured Pogba and, while Fellaini and Carrick are both currently unavailable, the Spaniard is relishing the first team minutes he’s been given.
Alongside Matic, together their roles to sit in front of the defence and let the front four do what they do best has been a recipe for success this season.
Juan Mata
Midfield maestro Mata has probably been the biggest surprise under Mourinho’s tenure. Many believed he faced the axe when the Portuguese was appointed, though he’s now one of the most trusted players in the squad.
He has the ability to open up spaces and arrive late in the box to score vital goals, he’ll be looking to add to his tally this weekend.
Henrik Mkhitaryan
After last season’s start, you’d have thought his stay in England would have been short-lived.
What a difference twelve months makes.
He’s now considered one of the most dangerous attacking midfielders in the Premier League and across Europe, the Armenian international interlinks with his other two flanked teammates to cause the opposition a constant headache.
Anthony Martial
With Marcus Rashford coming off injured midweek Martial is the obvious replacement, as it has been all season.
He’s been in terrific form this year and is showing glimpses of what a player he could turn out to be in the future. In Rashford’s absence, Martial can make Mourinho take note with another eye-catching display.
Romelu Lukaku
Lukaku is going through a goal-scoring crisis at the minute, having not scored for two whole games, such has been his impact and amazing start to life at Old Trafford.
He’ll quickly want to get back into the goal scoring groove before it actually starts to become a problem, especially with the returning Zlatan Ibrahimovic waiting in the wings.
