Erik ten Hag expected to discuss three important Man United topics in pre-Nottingham Forest press conference

Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag will speak to the media in his press conference ahead of the Premier League clash against Nottingham Forest on Saturday afternoon.

The United boss will be eager for his team to impress against Steve Cooper’s side after two disappointing performances to open the campaign against Wolves and Tottenham Hotspur.

Whilst fortunate to collect three points on the opening day, The Reds were then punished for their sluggish display in their 2-0 loss to Spurs.

Facing up against Forest at Old Trafford could be the perfect chance for Ten Hag and his team to gain momentum ahead of their trip to The Emirates to face Arsenal next week.

There are also some important talking points ahead of the encounter, which Ten Hag will almost certainly discuss when quizzed by journalists on Friday afternoon at 13:45 BST.

Hojlund fitness update

Rasmus Hojlund is yet to make his Manchester United debut after signing for the club earlier this month. A minor back problem has kept him in individual training whilst at the Carrington training complex.

There have been conflicting reports about his return from injury, with one suggesting that he could make the bench against Forest, whilst the other stated his return could be delayed until after the September international break.

Friday’s press conference provides the perfect opportunity for Ten Hag to give clarity on the situation and whether Hojlund could feature on the weekend.

Who replaces Mount?

Mason Mount was ruled out with an injury until after the September international break and Ten Hag will need to make a decision on who starts against Forest in the midfield alongside Casemiro and Bruno Fernandes.

Mount has yet to gel into the United engine room properly and the boss could go for familiarity with Christian Eriksen. However, Scott McTominay is also an option to provide some extra steel in the United midfield.

On the other hand, it has been reported that Hannibal Mejbri is in contention to be with the squad for the game and the 20-year-old played a similar role to Mount during pre-season.

It will be a difficult decision for the United boss and he is expected to talk all about it ahead of the clash.

Does Shaw blow impact Fernandez plans?

Luke Shaw too has picked up a muscular injury that will keep him out of action for a number of weeks, which will certainly be a blow to Ten Hag and United.

However, the injury will almost definitely have a knock-on effect for the role of young left-back Alvaro Fernandez, who has attracted a wide amount of interest in the transfer market.

Whether United were planning for a potential loan or permanent move at the start of the summer, Fernandez has since seen both Tyrell Malacia and Shaw pick up injuries which leaves United extremely short in the position going into the last week of the transfer window.

It is nigh on impossible for United to recruit a left-back through a transfer, and whilst Diogo Dalot is comfortable playing on the left side, Ten Hag will need a backup, especially in case of injury to either Dalot or Aaron Wan-Bissaka.

That makes it seem like Fernandez will be staying at United and it could be possible that Ten Hag trusts him to make contributions whilst Shaw and Malacia are out. He will likely be addressing the situation on Friday afternoon.