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Double boost and new role - United possible best XI vs Everton amid injury woes
Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim will be praying for some good news on the injury and illness front this week.
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Following Harry Maguire's last-gasp winner against Leicester City in the FA Cup, Manchester United had nine days to prepare for their next game.
United have had to contend with a demanding fixture schedule since Ruben Amorim's appointment in November, meaning clear midweeks have been limited.
However, United had the luxury of a free midweek ahead of Sunday's trip to Tottenham Hotspur, offering Amorim a full week on the training ground with his players.
Naturally, an extended period of time to prepare for the clash with Spurs increased positivity levels among United's supporters. They had seen the benefit of extended preparation time during last month's trips to Liverpool and Arsenal.
However, it came to light on Saturday that Amorim would be travelling to the capital with a depleted squad. The biggest blow of all saw Amad confirm he faces a spell on the sidelines with an ankle injury. Amorim does not expect him to play again this season.
Midfielders Kobbie Mainoo and Manuel Ugarte were also ruled out, likewise Toby Collyer. By the time United arrived at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium not much less than an hour before kick-off, it was revealed Leny Yoro and Christian Eriksen had joined the list of absentees, each missing out through illness.
It meant Amorim had no choice but to fill almost all of his bench with youngsters. Seven academy players made the bench in total, with Victor Lindelof the only member of the nine-man bench to have ever played for the first team.
Of course, United were beaten 1-0 by Spurs, despite producing a valiant effort in the circumstances. Had Alejandro Garnacho or Joshua Zirkzee been a little bit more composed infront of goal, United would have claimed a point at the very least.
Next up for the Reds is a farewell trip to Goodison Park to face Everton on Saturday lunchtime. Amorim will issue an update on the team news when he faces the media later this week at Carrington, but he admitted he was hopeful of recovering Yoro and Eriksen for the short trip to Merseyside.
Leny Yoro was ill at the weekend. (Image: Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Getty Images.)Speaking in Sunday's post-match press conference, Amorim said: "Let's wait a few more days. I think Leny and Chris were sick, so they will recover.
"Chris has the heart situation and we have to be really careful with that - it's nothing about the heart! I'm just saying the heart rate has to be controlled because he has a fever. I think they will recover and the rest we will see."
If the duo recover in time and are deemed fit enough to start, it would be no surprise to see Amorim throw them straight into the starting XI. Eriksen has had some bright moments this season and almost certainly would have started against his former club at the weekend had he been available.
Andre Onana was the only senior goalkeeper available on Sunday and he will keep his place against David Moyes' side. Yoro will be in contention to join him in the starting XI and could join forces with Harry Maguire and Matthijs de Ligt in the back three.
Both Noussair Mazraoui and Diogo Dalot started against Spurs, with the latter operating at right wing-back. He struggled to contain Son Heung-min, regularly being beaten by the Spurs captain, but he has rarely been left out by Amorim.
Patrick Dorgu got his first start on the left in London and produced a promising performance. He should now be aspiring to make the left wing-back berth his own.
Casemiro will be under pressure to keep his place in the centre of midfield after a testing 91 minutes at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. He lacks the intensity to play the way Amorim wants his team to, meaning Bruno Fernandes and Eriksen would be a logical midfield paring should the Dane recover.
Zirkzee offered flashes of promise playing as one of the No.10s on Sunday, linking the play. Despite being signed as an option up front, Zirkzee looks far more comfortable playing behind a striker and he should now be seen as a No.10 and not a striker. Garnacho can fill the left-sided role.
Rasmus Hojlund is the only senior option available to lead the line. Despite making his debut at Spurs, Amorim won't unleash Chido Obi from the start.
Manchester United will be hoping for good news this week.United's strongest XI vs Everton with double injury boost: Onana; Yoro, Maguire, De Ligt; Dalot, Eriksen, Fernandes, Dorgu; Zirkzee, Garnacho, Hojlund.
