Erik ten Hag will hope Marcus Rashford is available to start for Manchester United in Thursday’s Premier League encounter against Chelsea.
The Red Devils need just a point from the game to secure Champions League football for next season, but the team have struggled for goals in recent weeks without the services of Rashford. The attacker has missed the last two games through illness and injury, but he returned to training on Tuesday.
Speaking in his pre-match press conference, Ten Hag said Rashford looks fit but added he will have to make a judgement on the player’s availability after the final training session on Wednesday.
Should Rashford return to the starting line-up, he could replace Jadon Sancho on the left wing, although the ex-Borussia Dortmund man produced one of his best performances of the campaign on Saturday in the 1-0 win over Bournemouth.
Anthony Martial might also drop to the bench, and Ten Hag was forced to answer questions about the attacker after he went straight down the tunnel following his substitution against Bournemouth on Saturday. Alejandro Garnacho has also come back recently after a long-term ankle injury and has been introduced off the bench in the last two matches.
It means United have just three guaranteed absentees for the Chelsea game, in Lisandro Martinez, Marcel Sabitzer and Donny van de Beek.
Elsewhere, with two games in four days to finish the league campaign, there’s a possibility that Ten Hag rotates on Thursday. Here’s how we think he’ll line up against Frank Lampard...
1. GK: David de Gea
His clean sheet on Saturday means the goalkeeper will win the 2022/23 Golden Glove award.
2. RB: Aaron Wan-Bissaka
The ex-Crystal Palace man has asserted himself as first choice in recent weeks, although there is a chance Diogo Dalot comes in if Ten Hag rotates.
3. CB: Raphael Varane
Sustained a bad injury in the reverse fixture. The defender has played well since returning to the team in the last two games.
4. CB: Victor Lindelof
Might come out if Ten Hag opts to rotate.