Rúben Amorim is predicted to make a surprise midfield call as Manchester United travel to face Brentford in the Premier League.
Manchester United begin this weekend’s Premier League schedule with a Saturday afternoon trip to Brentford in West London.
Rúben Amorim’s team have so far produced two wins, two defeats and a draw, leaving them 11th in the standings and yet to show signs of real consistency.
Their victories came through Bruno Fernandes’ late penalty against Burnley and a 2-1 win over Chelsea last weekend, where Robert Sánchez’s red card gave United the advantage they needed.
Now, after that success against Enzo Maresca’s men, Amorim has the chance to claim consecutive league victories for the first time in his reign — a step that could help kick-start a stronger run of form.
Amorim to make multiple changes vs Brentford
The Brentford tie comes after another full week of training for the Reds that saw Diogo Dalot return to the group, while Noussair Mazraoui was hit with an injury that has ruled him out until the middle of October.
According to club insiders, new goalkeeper Senne Lammens has been “outstanding” during training sessions this week. With Altay Bayındır yet to impress in goal during his five appearances so far, Lammens could be handed his debut on Saturday afternoon.
As for the back line, it’s thought that Leny Yoro will likely come back into the fold as the right centre-half, while Matthijs de Ligt looks set to continue his streak of starting every league game so far in the middle.
On the left of the back three, Luke Shaw is likely to continue his place, although with Lisandro Martínez set to return in the coming weeks, his long-term future in the XI could be in question.
Amad will not be part of the squad due to a family bereavement, while Mazraoui’s absence leaves Dalot as the only realistic choice at right wing-back, while Patrick Chinazaekpere Dorgu is expected to continue on the left flank.
In the middle of the park, Kobbie Mainoo may be handed his first league start of the season. Casemiro is suspended and Manuel Ugarte is yet to impress Ugarte, so the English midfielder may get his chance from the start alongside Fernandes.
In attack, Matheus Cunha is likely to be reintroduced to the starting XI following his return from injury last week, while all signs point to Bryan Mbeumo being handed his sixth Premier League start in a row as he returns to Brentford, the club he departerd United for in July.
As for the striker position, Benjamin Šeško is the likely candidate to start after he had to be taken off at half-time against Chelsea due to Casemiro’s red card. However, if his lack of goals continues, Amorim may soon choose to take him out of the firing line and play Joshua Zirkzee, instead.
United predicted XI vs Brentford
Lammens, Yoro, De Ligt, Shaw, Dalot, Mainoo, Fernandes, Dorgu, Mbeumo, Šeško, Cunha.
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