Bryan Mbeumo is predicted to start as Manchester United line up to face Bournemouth at Old Trafford in a Monday evening Premier League tie.
Manchester United will be looking to regain a sense of consistency when they welcome Bournemouth to Old Trafford on Monday night.
Rúben Amorim’s most recent match produced one of the defining wins of his tenure, with Bruno Fernandes netting twice and goals from Bryan Mbeumo and Mason Mount sealing a 4-1 victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers. The inability to keep a clean sheet, though, prevented it from being a perfect evening.
United have lost only once in their last nine league games, but with just two wins across their previous six, questions remain about how strong their current form truly is.
Bournemouth, meanwhile, head into the fixture on the back of a challenging run, having lost four and drawn two of their last six Premier League matches. Even so, the Cherries have enjoyed recent success at Old Trafford, claiming back-to-back 3-0 wins in the past two seasons.
AFCON due could start vs Bournemouth
Senne Lammens has played every single game since his debut at the beginning of October. Although he has only kept one clean sheet this season, the Belgian goalkeeper has been solid and is expected to remain in goal.
However, one change could be forced if Noussair Mazraoui leaves for the Africa Cup of Nations. It has been decreed that all players must be released on 15 December, seven days before the competition starts. With Morocco set to kick off in the tournament next Monday, he may have already departed.
If that is the case, Leny Yoro is the most likely option to play on the right of the back three. Harry Maguire and Matthijs de Ligt remain unavailable, which leaves Ayden Heaven for the middle centre-back position.
Although LIsandro Martínez has returned to action, Luke Shaw’s form cannot be ignored, making the latter the more likely candidate for the left centre-back spot. As for the wing-backs, Amad may still be available to start despite AFCON orders.
United have been in talks with the respective African confederations to try and delay the releases of Amad and Bryan Mbeumo.
What is different about their cases is that the duo do not start their respective campaigns until three days after Mazraoui, meaning even if they featured against Bournemouth, they could still be released more than seven days before the start of their campaigns.
If this is the case, Amad would start on the right flank with Diogo Dalot on the left. If not, Dalot will replace Amad on the right, with Patrick Chinazaekpere Dorgu likely to play on the left instead.
It is also important to note that Amorim does not want it to be public knowledge whether his AFCON trio can play against Bournemouth, as he does not want to give the opposition a chance to guess his plans.
In midfield, there will almost certainly be no changes, leaving Casemiro and Bruno Fernandes in the middle. However, if Mbeumo is not available, Fernandes could push higher, which would leave space for Kobbie Mainoo to start alongside the aforementioned Brazilian.
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If Mbeumo is available, he is expected to start on the right of the front three. Matheus Cunha is fit and played well in the middle last week, so could start at striker again, with the in-form Mason Mount therefore picking up the left attacking role.
United predicted XI vs Bournemouth
Lammens, Yoro, Heaven, Shaw, Amad, Casemiro, Fernandes, Dalot, Mbeumo, Cunha, Mount.
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