How Manchester United could line up without 10 players this weekend

Manchester United could be without as many as 10 players when they face Brentford in the Premier League this weekend.

Kobbie Mainoo and Alejandro Garnacho both withdrew from international duty as a 'precaution' following recent injury issues, while Amad Diallo was absent due to illness. Mason Mount is hoping to be involved after his recent head injury saw him miss draws with Porto and Aston Villa, while Manuel Ugarte is the latest injury scare following his withdrawal for Uruguay on Tuesday night.

Harry Maguire and Noussair Mazraoui are both set for a few weeks on the sidelines and defensive duo Luke Shaw and Tyrell Malacia could both return later this month. Leny Yoro is targeting a return to action next month.

Erik ten Hag will hope to have as many as five of those players available against Brentford and will no doubt issue an update on his squad options when he speaks to the press on Friday afternoon, but there is no certainty all of them will be available this weekend. In the worst case scenario, here is how United could potentially line up on Saturday afternoon if none of them are fit from the start:

DEFENCE:

Andre Onana is a certainty to start in goal this weekend and Diogo Dalot will play in either full-back role, depending on who the other full-back is. It makes most sense to start either Lisandro Martinez or Jonny Evans at left-back, with the other in the middle to partner Matthijs de Ligt.

MIDFIELD:

Bruno Fernandes will definitely start in the attacking midfield role and Christian Eriksen is also likely to keep his place having started six of the last seven across all competitions. If all of Mainoo, Ugarte and Mount were missing, then it would make sense to give Casemiro a go.

ATTACK:

United are well-stocked in attack even without Amad or Garnacho. In that case, Antony would be the leading candidate to come into the forward line after his encouraging cameo against Aston Villa. Marcus Rashford should start on the left, while Rasmus Hojlund could lead the line. Another option would be to play Fernandes out wide, with Joshua Zirkzee in the attacking midfield role.

Possible XI vs Brentford: Onana; Dalot; De Ligt, Evans, Martinez; Casemiro, Eriksen, Fernandes; Antony, Rashford, Hojlund.