As the team sheets came through for the Manchester United Under-21s and PSV game, there were some notable absentees from the line-up, which could have implications for the Carabao Cup game against Burnley.
📋 Presenting our U21s' final line-up of the calendar year.
All the best tonight in the #PLInternationalCup, lads 🙌#MUFC || #MUAcademy pic.twitter.com/i0u3sjCziY
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) December 19, 2022
There were three players that were not in the squad and they were Zidane Iqbal, Charlie Savage and Charlie McNeill, which in my opinion gives them a good chance of featuring in the game against Burnley tomorrow night.
I think that Iqbal, who impressed during the friendly games out in Spain has a good chance to partner Scott McTominay in the centre of United’s midfield, which would potentially mean that Iqbal could make his second United competitive start, having come on as a substitute to make his debut for the club in the Champions League against Young Boys last season.
Kobbie Mainoo, who had an outstanding game in United’s 2-0 defeat to PSV, will presumably have to wait a little longer for his United first-team debut as he featured in the clash against the Dutch side, but if he keeps his performances up in training and in the Academy games, then a first-team debut is just around the corner for the talented youngster.
#MUFC 0-0 PSV
United struggled to get going – PSV press making playing out from back tricky – but finished with a flourish.
Hugill missed the target from 2-yards out after cross by Shoretire. He hugged the post in disbelief.
Mainoo central to most good things from United.
— Laurie Whitwell (@lauriewhitwell) December 19, 2022
Given that they were not part of the matchday squad in the Under-21s Premier League International Cup, I feel as though there is a good possibility that Savage and McNeill will make the United substitute bench.
The World Cup stars who were eliminated at the quarter-final stages are due back at Carrington today, but it remains to be seen whether they will start against Burnley due to the quick turnaround, but those players who got to the World Cup quarter-finals should have a decent level of match fitness, which means that ten Hag could play some of those players.
The game against Burnley will be United’s first competitive match since that dramatic 2-1 win over Fulham last month, in which 18-year-old Aljandro Garnacho came off the bench to score a stoppage time winner to give United all three points.
📅 The Reds are back in action this week 🙌#MUFC || #MondayMotivation pic.twitter.com/jOer8UilVA
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) December 19, 2022