With Manchester United set to welcome Kobbie Mainoo back to the squad in the next week or so, a fresh pattern from Rúben Amorim has been noticed ahead of the Lyon tie.
Manchester United shift their focus back to Europa League action this Thursday evening, heading across the English Channel for a quarter-final clash against Olympique Lyonnais.
In their previous European outing, Rúben Amorim’s side convincingly dispatched Spanish outfit Real Sociedad, progressing comfortably with a 5-2 aggregate victory to book their spot in the last eight.
Their opponents, Lyon, advanced with ease after dismantling Romanian club FCSB 7-1 over two dominant legs, setting up this high-profile encounter with United. Impressively, Amorim’s squad stands alone as the only unbeaten team left in this year’s Europa League.
Yet, after failing to find the net in consecutive Premier League matches against Nottingham Forest and Manchester City, Amorim will be keen for his team to rediscover their goal-scoring form in Lyon this week.
Amorim to make Mainoo selection decision
While United have been hit with a number of injury problems in the last few weeks, Amorim has been able to welcome back several key players as his side head toward the business end of a tough and bizarre season.
With both Mason Mount and Luke Shaw having been reintegrated into the squad in the last few weeks, a fresh pattern from Amorim has emerged regarding easing the players back into his matchday teams.
For Mount, he was given a few extra days on the training pitch before being thrown into the squad against Leicester City ahead of the break, but he did not play in the tie and instead returned to action during the next fixture, against Forest.
Similarly, Shaw was allowed a little extra time in training before returning to the matchday squad, where he was named on the bench against City. The English defender did not play but is set to see his first minutes back on the pitch when United face Lyon.
With Mainoo, a similar pattern could apply. The player only just missed out on the squad that faced City, hinting that he may be available to play against Lyon.
Amorim may well choose to bring the player with him for the bench but not use him in France in order to help reintegrate him, then hand the teenage midfielder his first minutes of action as the club face Newcastle on the weekend.
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As the head coach is allowed to select 23 players for the Europa Legaue, other young guns such as Jack Fletcher or James Scanlon could return to the bench, while Godwill Kukonki may remain in the squad.
Chido Obi will not be involved on Thursday after he was not selected to compete in the competition for the remainder of the campaign, and with Matthijs de Ligt injured, he may miss out on the matchday squad, too.
United predicted squad vs Lyon (Premier League)
Goalkeepers: André Onana, Altay Bayındır.
Defenders: Noussair Mazraoui, Harry Maguire, Leny Yoro, Diogo Dalot, Patrick Dorgu, Victor Lindelöf, Godwill Kukonki, Luke Shaw, Harry Amass.
Midfielders: Manuel Ugarte, Casemiro, Bruno Fernandes, Mason Mount, Christian Eriksen, Kobbie Mainoo, Jack Fletcher.
Forwards: Joshua Zirkzee, Rasmus Højlund, Alejnadro Garnacho, James Scanlon.
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