Manchester United will look to bounce back from their 3-0 Premier League defeat to Bournemouth when they visit Wolves on Boxing Day.
United’s humbling defeat to Andoni Iraola’s side at home on Sunday made it back-to-back defeats and continued the Red Devils’ mixed start under Ruben Amorim.
The result leaves United 13th in the table and means that the club will spend Christmas Day be in the bottom half for the first time since 1989.
Amorim’s side have little time to lick their wounds as they prepare to face Wolves who are fresh off a vital 3-0 win against Leiciester City in Vitor Pereira’s first game in charge since replacing Gary O’Neil.
In desperate need of more defensive solidity, United will hope to welcome back Matthijs de Ligt who has missed the last two fixtures with a bout of illness.
The Dutch centre-back was expected to return against the Cherries on the weekend but was not part of the matchday squad.
Should he return on Thursday, the Dutch international could slot in alongside Harry Maguire and Lisandro Martinez in the back three, with Noussair Mazroui returning to his favoured wing-back role.
Elsewhere in defence, Victor Lindelof is unlikely to feature having picked up an injury against Tottenham, while Luke Shaw remains a long-term absentee having suffered a setback with his rehabilitation at the start of the month.
Further up the pitch, there is more injury woe for Mason Mount who limped off during the first half of the Manchester Derby and is unlikely to return against Wolves.
‘[He will be out for] Several weeks,’ Amorim confirmed when speaking on Friday ahead of United’s game against Bournemouth.
‘I don’t know the exact date but it’s going to be for long and that’s it. That’s part of football, you continue.’
Marcus Rashford remains fit and available for selection but has not featured in United’s last three matchday squads.
The Englishman’s future at Old Trafford remains up the in air after he publically admitted that he was ‘ready for a new challenge’.
Asked after his side’s defeat to Sunday whether Rashford could feature in the squad against Wolves, Amorim said: ‘It depends, we will see.’
Even if Rashford remains out of the squad, Amorim may choose to tinker with other elements of his attacking trio.
Joshua Zirkzee was withdrawn after just 54 minutes on Sunday and could be benched in favour of Rasmus Hojlund, while Bruno Fernandes could be deployed further back in central midfield to make way for Alejandro Garnacho.
Predicted Man Utd XI to face Wolves
Onana; Martinez, Maguire, De Ligt; Dalot, Mainoo, Ugarte, Mazraoui; Fernandes, Hojlund, Amad.
Where to watch Wolves vs Bournemouth? Kick-off time and TV channel
Wolves vs Manchester United kicks off at 5.30pm on Thursday, December 26. The match will be broadcast in the United Kingdom on Amazon Prime.
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