United are in action tonight against La Liga opposition Cadiz CF, which kicks off at 7pm UK time at the Estadio Nuevo Mirandilla and this is the team that I would select for the first game that United have played since the dramatic stoppage time winner over Fulham last month.
For the game against Cadiz tonight, I would field as strong as an XI as possible that mirrors the team that is likely to play in United’s first competitive game back, which is the Carabao Cup tie against Burnley because getting the non-World Cup players back to a good level of fitness and match intensity is extremely important at this stage.
The Reds are back in action! 💪#MUFC
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) December 7, 2022
David de Gea is back in his homeland Spain and I would start the United number one tonight for the clash against Cadiz, who are currently 19th in La Liga but they are only 3 points behind Getafe in 15th.
I would play both full-backs, Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Brandon Williams and see how they fare in their first game back from injuries, however, having said that I would like Erik ten Hag to manage their minutes.
With Victor Lindelof the only senior centre-back on the trip to Spain because Lisandro Martinez, Harry Maguire and Raphael Varane are at the World Cup, I would pair Lindelof with Teden Mengi at the heart of United’s back four.
In midfield, I would play Scott McTominay alongside Zidane Iqbal, which allows ten Hag to get a chance to see the United academy graduate from the beginning as the manager told MUTV that this trip is a “great opportunity” for the young players to show him what they are all about.
Day three of camp = complete ✔️#MUFC
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) December 6, 2022
With the game against Burnley nearly two weeks away, this is an important game for Donny van de Beek to stake a claim because he has not really impressed in the opportunities that he got in November, against Aston Villa and Real Sociedad, respectively.
It would make sense to play Donny in his preferred number 10 position, and either side of him, I would field the young prodigy, Alejandro Garnacho, who scored the stoppage time winner when United beat Fulham 2-1 in their final game before the break and I would start Anthony Elanga on the right-hand side in a 4-2-3-1 formation.
Alejandro Garnacho started a Manchester United party 🍾
(via @ManUtd)pic.twitter.com/7pBS9WWscp
— B/R Football (@brfootball) November 14, 2022
Finally, I would start Anthony Martial up front for United and it would be great to see Garnacho, Elanga and Martial all together in the same team because they all offer something different and this can be a useful option for Man United in the second of the season because it will keep teams guessing.