Darren Fletcher is expected to reintroduce Bruno Fernandes to his squad as Manchester United take on Burnley at Turf Moor on Wednesday evening.
Manchester United head to Burnley on Wednesday evening facing an unusual situation following the departure of Rúben Amorim on Monday.
The move came after Sunday’s 1-1 draw with Leeds, which was followed by an outspoken post-match interview in which the United head coach openly criticised the club’s board, pointing to a lack of trust and authority during a difficult spell of results.
With Amorim no longer in charge, Under-18s head coach Darren Fletcher is expected to lead the team from the touchline, and he could also remain at the helm for Sunday’s FA Cup fixture against Brighton at Old Trafford.
United are currently sixth in the Premier League table, level on points with fifth-placed Chelsea, and remain focused on securing a Champions League place by the end of the season.
Fernandes might return to the XI vs Burnley
Fletcher is known to play a regular 4-3-3 in United’s Academy, and may choose to play a similar formation on Wednesday evening, possibly adapting to a 4-2-3-1 as United’s players transition away from Amorim’s back three.
Senne Lammens is expected to start in goal, and as for who’s ahead of him, there is little notion that either of Harry Maguire or Matthijs de Ligt will return. Therefore, the likely candidates are that Ayden Heaven and Lisandro Martínez are the two who will play as centre-backs.
At left-back, Luke Shaw is the only senior option who is comfortable in the position, and Fletcher will likely lean on the 30-year-old’s experience. At the same time, Diogo Dalot is likely to be installed at right-back.
As for the midfield, if a 4-2-3-1 is deployed, Casemiro and Manuel Ugarte are the natural choices, with Kobbie Mainoo not quite fit enough back from injury, although he has been doing individual training on grass and is expected back soon.
Fletcher admitted on Tuesday afternoon that captain Bruno Fernandes is likely to return to the squad, but that his minutes will have to be limited. Knowing the 30-year-old, he will still push to play as much as he can, so he could feature from the start, but play around 55-60 minutes as an attacking midfielder.
As for the front three, one who will certinaly start is Matheus Cunha, likely on the left flank. AS for the striker, Benjamin Šeško is likely to be picked over Joshua Zirkzee, who could be used as an impact substitute if needed, while Patrick Chinazaekpere Dorgu is the likely candidate on the right flank.
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However, Mason Mount is another option who could be given a run-out, with Fletcher stating that he is likely to return to the squad but will only be handed limited minutes.
United predicted XI vs Burnley
Lammens, Dalot, Heaven, Martínez, Shaw, Casemiro, Ugarte, Dorgu, Fernandes, Cunha, Šeško.
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