Man Utd predicted XI vs Brentford as injury crisis causes huge headache for Erik ten Hag

Manchester United are without some key players for their Premier League match against Brentford on Saturday, with midfield a particular area of concern for Erik ten Hag

Erik ten Hag has been handed a nightmare scenario ahead of Manchester United’s must-win Premier League game against Brentford on Saturday.

United return from the international break desperate for a victory following a damaging five-match winless streak which threatened Ten Hag’s job. Sir Jim Ratcliffe met with United’s executive team during the break to discuss Ten Hag’s future and the Dutchman knows he is skating on thin ice.

Ten Hag’s side host Brentford at Old Trafford at 3pm on Saturday knowing it will be a tough test, with Thomas Frank’s team having scored inside the first two minutes in their past four Premier League matches. Things haven’t been made any easier for Ten Hag by the number of unavailable players.

United, who are in 14th place with two wins from seven games, currently have 10 first-team players who are either ruled out by injury or are doubts going into the Brentford match. Defenders Leny Yoro, Tyrell Malacia and Luke Shaw are all long-term absentees who are still not available.

Meanwhile, United have been further depleted by the news that Harry Maguire and Kobbie Mainoo are set for a spell on the sidelines. Mainoo withdrew from the England squad for the break with a hamstring injury picked up in the 0-0 draw with Aston Villa and is expected to miss the next seven games.

Maguire has a calf issue, while Mason Mount (head injury) is also expected to miss the Brentford game. Noussair Mazraoui was involved in United training on Thursday, but remains a doubt having undergone a minor precautionary corrective procedure after experiencing heart palpitations.

Manuel Ugarte was only able to train lightly on Thursday after picking up a thigh injury while on international duty with Uruguay. Alejandro Garnacho did not play for Argentina in the international break due to a persistent knee problem, while Amad pulled out of Ivory Coast action due to illness. Both trained on Thursday and should be in contention, but it is a far from ideal picture for Ten Hag.

Image: Carl Recine/Getty Images) Carl Recine/Getty Images)

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The former Ajax manager has rarely been able to field his first-choice backline during his time at United and that will continue on Saturday. Diogo Dalot is likely to continue at left-back in the absence of Shaw and Malacia, while Victor Lindelof could fill in for Mazraoui at right-back, if the Morocco international is unable to play. Lindelof came on in the draw at Villa Park and did a good job.

Jonny Evans put in a man-of-the-match performance against Villa and will challenge for a place in the side with Lisandro Martinez and Matthijs de Ligt.

Image: Getty Images) Getty Images)

It is in midfield where the real problems lie, with potentially just two senior players fully fit. With Ugarte a doubt and Mount unavailable, it seems likely that Casemiro will partner Christian Eriksen in a pairing which could lack mobility in Mainoo’s absence.

There is a more positive picture in attack, where Rasmus Hojlund is back available alongside Bruno Fernandes and Marcus Rashford. It seems likely that Garnacho will play, although he has been rotated with Amad.

Predicted XI: Onana; Lindelof, Martinez, De Ligt, Dalot; Casemiro, Eriksen; Fernandes, Garnacho, Rashford; Hojlund

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