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How Man United could line up against Leeds amid injury crisis and Casemiro suspension

talksport.com, 11 February 2023, 20:00
Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag has quite the injury crisis on his hands.

The Red Devils are already facing most of the rest of the season without Christian Eriksen, who has been a key player throughout the campaign for the club.

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But fellow summer signing Antony is also now facing a spell on the sidelines, as well as Scott McTominay, giving Ten Hag quite the headache.

In total, United have five players out injured with Anthony Martial and Donny van de Beek also missing while Casemiro is still suspended after his red card against Crystal Palace last week.

The Old Trafford outfit travel to Leeds on Sunday afternoon having played them at home on Wednesday night in a frantic War of the Roses clash.

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The Whites had gone two up through Wilfried Gnonto and a Raphael Varane own goal.

But a quick-fire double from Marcus Rashford and Jadon Sancho saw the Red Devils earn a point while the two Premier League teams will do all over again on Sunday.

Sancho's return could not have come at a better time with Antony out injured for the weekend.

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The England international had been absent for nearly three months before returning against Nottingham Forest in the Carabao Cup earlier this month from the bench.

And he looks set to be handed his first start after his impressive cameo against Leeds while Alejandro Garnacho struggled to make much of a mark.

United's problems might come in midfield, though, with Eriksen, Casemiro and McTominay missing.

Fred and new signing Marcel Sabitzer started together at Old Trafford on Wednesday night but their performance was erratic to say the least, failing to control midfield like their injured team-mates might have.

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But they look set to start again on Sunday with no other clear options available, though Victor Lindelof might have given Ten Hag something to think about.

The centre-back, by trade, played out the final 10 minutes at the base of midfield after coming on for Sabitzer, who arrived on loan from Bayern Munich on Deadline Day.

Whether the Sweden international performs a similar role against Leeds remains to be seen but Ten Hag might prefer to only utilise him in emergency circumstances.

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United's attack also looks threadbare with Martial and Antony missing, leaving Rashford, Sancho and Wout Weghorst as the likely trio up top.

Garnacho could return to a spot on the bench but could be introduced, considering Sancho might be far from match fitness.

But another injury would mean panic stations for the Red Devils, who might have to return to using Anthony Elanga despite being used sparingly by Ten Hag this season.

Aaron Wan-Bissaka was absent for the midweek fixture with illness but is expected to return, though Diogo Dalot could retain his spot in defence.

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But Harry Maguire continues to miss out after being relegated to fifth-choice central defender with even Luke Shaw above him in the pecking order.

Tyrell Malacia has proved a decent acquisition for the squad but with Lisandro Martinez playing out his skin, United's defensive partnership alongside Raphael Varane picks itself.

So, who could United play against Leeds this Sunday?

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De Gea; Dalot, Varane, Martinez, Shaw; Fred, Sabitzer, Fernandes; Sancho, Weghorst, Rashford.

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