Match Coverage
“Let’s see…” – Ruben Amorim drops big starting XI hint for Man Utd vs Bodo/Glimt clash
Ruben Amorim has dropped a big starting XI hint ahead of Manchester United’s clash in the Europa League against Bodo/Glimt.
Rúben Amorim takes charge of Manchester United for the second time on Thursday evening, following a 1-1 draw against Ipswich Town in his managerial debut.
The Europa League match against Bodo/Glimt will be Amorim’s first time in the Old Trafford dugout since his appointment earlier this month.
Currently 15th in the Europa League standings, United are three points away from the top eight positions required for automatic qualification to the next stage.
With just one win and three draws so far, they need to step up in their remaining four group matches to secure a better position and avoid the play-off round ahead of next year’s knockout stages.
The 39-year-old head coach will be desperate to get the first win under his belt and he will likely be making changes to the team which faced Ipswich.
That is helped by the return of certain players from injury and others moving forward in their own recovery to match fitness.
Lisandro Martínez is back in the squad to face the Norwegian outfit, however, it could instead be Luke Shaw lining up as the left centre-back in Amorim’s back three.
Shaw returned from injury to come off the bench on the weekend and Amorim has hinted that the 29-year-old could be ready to start for United for the first time since February.
“Licha [Martinez] is ready to play, Harry [Maguire] is returning, that’s a good thing,” began Amorim when asked by club reporters about team news.
“Leny Yoro is improving his fitness, Luke [Shaw] is healthy! Let’s see if he plays in the starting XI or not.
“We will see, but with all the squad we are stronger, it’s normal. So we are ready to go.”
Shaw is naturally a left-back but various reports have claimed that the Portuguese boss plans to use him more as the left-sided centre-back than at wingback.
When he came on against Ipswich, it was to replace Jonny Evans in the back three and it will likely be his position once again as there is no need to rush Lisandro Martínez back into the team.
That will not be the only change to the team, with Amorim keen to rotate the team in a period where many games are packed in a short space of time.
“That is the idea,” he responded when asked about possible rotation. “They are international players, all of them in Manchester United are ready to play every game, and we have a lot of games.
“We have to rotate the team, it is something we need to do. And it is good for the team, especially in this moment we are putting a new idea.
“Everyone has to play and everybody is ready to win matches.”
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