The Cavani call
United will have to do without Edinson Cavani for three matches, although he was unlikely to start against Aston Villa. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer settled on a rotational pattern with Cavani and Martial across the last four games before the Football Association confirmed the former’s suspension.
Martial has one Premier League goal all season – gifted by the errant Sheffield United goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale – and his form is bound to be scrutinised in the absence of Cavani over the next three games, with United on the verge of reeling in Liverpool and a cup final at stake.
Rotation to continue?
United have used 20 players during this 15-day period of a game every three days and that freshness was pivotal in the last 20 minutes against a weary Wolves.
Aston Villa kicked off 24 hours earlier against Chelsea and are buoyant, unbeaten in five and fifth in the table. Rotation is essential but fewer changes than the six against Wolves would be advisable.
Certain starters?
David de Gea could sit out both cup games next week and his faultless performance against Wolves all but guarantees him a New Year’s Day start. Martial and Luke Shaw are bound to come back in, Harry Maguire and Eric Bailly’s partnership is likely to continue and Aaron Wan-Bissaka is a certainty, as are Bruno Fernandes and Marcus Rashford.
Mason Greenwood underwhelmed against Wolves but the alternative is Daniel James, underwhelming at Leicester. Solskjaer must decide whether to completely change the midfield by reintroducing Fred and Scott McTominay or retain one of Nemanja Matic and Paul Pogba.
It would be a surprise if Donny van de Beek gets a look-in.
Three in a row?
Home form has been problematic for United domestically this season and Villa is the second of four successive games at Old Trafford. If they can see off Villa after Liverpool fired blanks at Newcastle to go level on points with their nemesis then United will have fortified their mental resolve.
Hints at January departures?
The satirical headline for Cavani’s ban would have been ‘Odion Ighalo thrown United lifeline’. Ighalo has not played since September, did not make the squad at Everton last week and his loan should not have gone beyond the end of last season.
Jesse Lingard was dropped from the squad following Juan Mata’s return and is generating interest ahead of the winter window. Cavani’s absence could usher Lingard back into the fold on the anniversary of his last league start.
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