Erik ten Hag has made three changes to his Manchester United line-up for the derby against City.
The boss has drafted Jonny Evans and Victor Lindelof into the defence, in place of Raphael Varane and Sergio Reguilon, who are both on the substitutes’ bench.
Antony’s place has gone to Christian Eriksen, with four central midfielders picked, although Bruno Fernandes could drift wide, particularly if Marcus Rashford starts in his familiar left-sided role.
Unfortunately, Casemiro did not win the race against time to be fit he was facing but Kobbie Mainoo is in the matchday squad for the first time this season.
In a pre-match interview, Ten Hag was asked by Sky Sports if his changes at the back were down to form or fitness.
“Tactics,” was his response. “It is tactics.”
The boss also hopes the players can take an extra pass when presented with attacking opportunities.
“Of course, when you have ball regains, everyone knows the opposition are out of position,” he added. “You have to take benefit from it and we can do better. We have to play that, be direct but, actually, we have to make the extra pass. We spoke about it and we coach the players, and coach the team in training, so hopefully we can transfer that into the game.
“Absolutely, he [Eriksen] is one of the passers who can have a great distribution but there are also other players in the team who have the capabilities to do that.”
In his interview with MUTV, Ten Hag suggested Mainoo is ready to play a part in the game, if required.
The visitors have Phil Foden available after he was flagged as a doubt, and he starts as part of an attacking formation, that also includes Jack Grealish.
Manuel Akanji is suspended after his red card against Brighton & Hove Albion, and it remains to be seen if John Stones or Josko Gvardiol start at full-back, with the Croatia international perhaps slight favourite to get the nod there.
THE TEAMS
United: Onana; Dalot, Evans, Maguire, Lindelof; Fernandes (c), Amrabat, McTominay, Eriksen; Hojlund, Rashford.
Substitutes: Bayindir, Reguilon, Varane, Hannibal, Mainoo, Mount, Antony, Garnacho, Martial.
City: Ederson; Walker (c), Dias, Stones, Gvardiol; Rodri, Bernardo Silva; Foden, Alvarez, Grealish; Haaland.
Substitutes: Ortega, Ake, Gomez, Lewis, Kovacic, Nunes, Phillips, Bobb, Doku.
