Man United will be without Bruno Fernandes in their upcoming Premier League game against Aston Villa on Sunday.
The Portuguese midfielder is suspended after having picked up his fifth yellow card in the win over West Ham United last week.
Fernandes has started every league game for Erik ten Hag’s side, captaining the Red Devils on multiple occasions.
But his absence spells as an opportunity for other players to impress the gaffer and stake their claim in the no.10 role. Here we look at two ways United can line up without Fernandes against Villa.
Option 1
While it might come out as a bit of a defensive shape, Scott McTominay can come in as Fernandes’ replacement. He’ll help Casemiro with his defensive duties in midfield and allow Christian Eriksen to push high up to operate as a no.10.
The Dane can prove his playmaking ability and also look to get into more goal-scoring areas as he still seeks his first goal for United. Marcus Rashford is likely to return for this, while Alejandro Garnacho could also get his first Premier League start after his heroics on Thursday.
Option 2
Donny van de Beek could actually benefit from Bruno’s suspension and get another start under Ten Hag in midfield. The Dutchman could allow Van de Beek to play more as a no.8 and give Eriksen more freedom to roam forward.
With questions surrounding his fitness, Antony is still a doubt for this game – which means Anthony Elanga can also get a start in the right-wing role.
