Man Utd predicted line-up v Wigan: Three changes with young attacker to be given rare start - gallery

Manchester United begin their FA Cup campaign on Monday when they travel to Wigan Athletic in the third round.

The Red Devils were beaten finalists last year in the competition after eliminating Everton, Reading, West Ham United, Fulham and Brighton & Hove Albion en route to Wembley. But the positivity that existed at United in the early parts of 2023 has dissipated, with the team struggling in the first half of the current season.

United have lost 14 matches already this campaign, the most before Christmas in a single season since 1930/31, and last time out Erik ten Hag’s side were beaten 2-1 by Nottingham Forest.

Speaking ahead of the Wigan game, Ten Hag revealed he will have ‘more or less’ the same squad from the Forest encounter. That means Harry Maguire, Victor Lindelof, Lisandro Martinez, Tyrell Malacia, Luke Shaw, Sofyan Amrabat, Mason Mount and Jadon Sancho should miss out. Anthony Martial has also been unavailable for the last month due to illness, but Rasmus Hojlund is expected to be back for the short trip to the DW Stadium.

Andre Onana should be selected in goal for the third-round tie with the goalkeeper not yet jetting out to meet up with the Cameroon squad ahead of the Africa Cup of Nations.

The long list of absentees leaves Ten Hag with relatively few options to choose from for the Wigan game, and he could name a strong line-up given United have a relatively quiet January schedule. Ten Hag also picked strong sides for games against lower-league clubs Reading and Charlton Athletic last season.

With all that mind, here’s the XI we expect Ten Hag to select on Monday night…