Ralf Rangnick explains why Cristiano Ronaldo misses Manchester United vs Leicester City

Ralf Rangnick has said Cristiano Ronaldo will miss Saturday’s Premier League clash against Leicester City due to ‘flu-like symptoms’.

The attacker was the glaring commission from the Manchester United starting line-up to face Leicester for the 5:30pm kick-off, and means United begin the game without a recognised centre-forward.

But speaking to MUTV before the match, Rangnick said: “Unfortunately, he [Ronaldo] had flu-like symptoms before training yesterday and he didn’t feel well enough to train.

“We sent the doctor to his home this morning and unfortunately he didn’t feel well enough to play.”

It means United will start with a front four of Anthony Elanga, Jadon Sancho, Bruno Fernandes and Paul Pogba, although Rangnick said he still has plenty of options in the offensive areas.

“We have a good XI on the pitch and have Juan Mata, Jesse Lingard and Marcus Rashford on the bench for us,” the interim manager said in his pre-game interview.

Edinson Cavani is out for the hosts, due to a calf problem he sustained on international duty.

As for Leicester, they start with Jonny Evans and Wesly Fofana at the back, both of whom have missed the majority of the campaign through injury. United-linked Youri Tielemans plays in midfield for the Foxes.

Line-ups in full

Manchester United: De Gea; Dalot, Varane, Maguire, Shaw; McTominay, Fred; Elanga, Sancho; Fernandes, Pogba.

Substitutes: Henderson, Lindelof, Jones, Wan-Bissaka, Alex Telles, Matic, Mata, Lingard, Rashford.

Leicester City: Schmeichel; Justin, Evans, Fofana, Castagne; Tielemans, Mendy; Maddison, Dewsbury-Hall, Barnes, Iheanacho.

Substitutes: Jakupovic, Ricardo, Amartey, Soyuncu, Choudhury, Albrighton, Lookman, Perez, Daka.