Darren Fletcher has chosen to select Shea Lacey on the bench as Manchester United take on Brighton in the FA Cup third round at Old Trafford.
Manchester United return to cup action on Sunday afternoon, welcoming Brighton to Old Trafford in the FA Cup.
The Reds have already played 22 competitive matches this season, 21 of them in the Premier League, with their only other outing coming in a Carabao Cup second-round defeat to Grimsby Town. The FA Cup therefore provides a welcome change from league duties.
United head into the tie following a dramatic week off the pitch, having dismissed Rúben Amorim on Monday before earning a 2-2 draw against Burnley on Wednesday evening. There were still positives to take, most notably a brace from Benjamin Šeško and a short cameo from 18-year-old Shea Lacey.
Brighton’s visit comes as the club continue their search for a caretaker manager to take charge until the end of the 2025/26 season, with former United players Ole Gunnar Solskjær and Michael Carrick among the leading candidates.
The XIs have been confirmed below, with Fletcher starting Kobbie Mainoo as part of the midfield, while Lacey is on the bench but could appear for his first minutes at Old Trafford in a senior tie.
Manchester United’s line-up
Starting XI: Lammens, Dalot, Yoro, Martinez, Dorgu, Ugarte, Mainoo, Fernandes, Mount, Cunha, Šeško.
Subs: Bayındır, Heaven, Maguire, Malacia, Casemiro, J. Fletcher, T. Fletcher, Lacey, Zirkzee.
Brighton’s line-up
Starting XI: Steele, Veltman, Coppola, Boscagli, Kadioglu, Gruda, Gross, Hinshelwood, Diego Gómez, Rutter, Welbeck.
Subs: Verbruggen, Dunk, van Hecke, Watson, Kostoulas, Mitoma, Ayari, Tasker, Howell.
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