Man Utd predicted line-up vs Nottingham Forest as Ten Hag eyes Carabao Cup final

01 February 2023 , 08:00

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Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has a selection dilemma on his hands (Image: Getty Images)

Manchester United are looking to book their place in the Carabao Cup final when they face Nottingham Forest in the semi-final second leg on Wednesday evening.

Erik ten Hag's side hold a comfortable 3-0 lead from the first leg at the City Ground thanks to goals from Marcus Rashford, Wout Weghorst and Bruno Fernandes. The Red Devils have one foot in the final at Wembley but the United boss will not accept any complacency heading into the game.

United are expected to field a strong leg for the clash despite losing Christian Eriksen for at least three months with an ankle issue. There have been suggestions that Ten Hag could rest his key stars and reduce the risk of picking up further injuries given the Red Devils' hectic fixture schedule.

However, it doesn't look like there will many alterations to the XI that beat Reading in the FA Cup as United try and secure their place in the final. Here is how United could line up on Wednesday night.

Goalkeeper

David de Gea is set to keep his place in net, although Tom Heaton is pushing for recall to the XI. The latter started United's quarter-final clash against Charlton, but Ten Hag returned to De Gea for the trip to Forest and the Spaniard is likely to continue in net.

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Defence

In defence, Ten Hag could stick with Aaron Wan-Bissaka at right-back as he has made that position his own since the World Cup break. Diogo Dalot is nursing an injury, which has allowed the former Crystal Palace defender to slot in, and he has impressed in that role since.

Lisandro Martinez is set to return to the Manchester United XI (Getty Images)

Predicting the two centre-backs is arguably the toughest call, with Ten Hag keen to shuffle between the four senior options, but Raphael Varane and Lisandro Martinez could start together for just the second time since November. There is no doubt that is Ten Hag's preferred partnership and he may use that against Forest, with Victor Lindelof and Harry Maguire on the bench.

At left-back, it feels like it is a 50/50 call between Luke Shaw and Tyrell Malacia. But after starting in the last two matches, Dutchman Malacia could drop down to the bench to allow Shaw to come back into the side.

Midfield

After it was confirmed that Christian Eriksen will at least three months through a serious ankle injury, Ten Hag will have to make at least one change from the win over Reading. It makes perfect sense for Fred to slot straight into that void, having impressed from the bench against the Royals.

Manchester United could line up like this on Wednesday night

This would mean there would be a Brazilian partnership at the base of United's midfield, with the evergreen Bruno Fernandes ahead of them. The Portuguese playmaker scored the Red Devils' third last Wednesday with a fine strike.

Attack

Like the defence, this was another tricky area of the team to predict. Antony is facing competition from Facundo Pellistri on the right wing, but the former has improved in recent weeks and needs game time to build up his confidence heading into an important period for the Red Devils.

Meanwhile, Anthony Martial is back fit after recovering from an injury and could force himself back into the side, but Weghorst has shown positive signs since arriving on loan from Burnley and scored last week. Marcus Rashford has played every game since the restart and it would make sense to give him a rare rest.

Man Utd predicted XI in full vs Forest : De Gea, Wan-Bissaka, Varane, Martinez, Shaw, Casemiro, Fred, Fernandes, Antony, Weghorst, Garnacho.

Kieran King