Martial is out yet again. Antony is starting to rack up match days missing. Martinez is suspended. McTominay is close to returning but not yet back training. Add the long-term injuries to the picture and this is who we are left with to pick a team from:
Goalkeepers: De Gea, Butland, Heaton, Bishop
Defenders: Dalot, Lindelof, Maguire, Malacia, Martinez, Shaw, Varane, Wan-Bissaka, Williams
Midfielders: Casemiro, Fred, Fernandes, Mainoo, Iqbal
Attackers: Elanga, Garnacho, Pellistri, Sancho, Rashford, Weghorst
DeGea starts as usual. Hopefully, Varane is available. He trained, so it’s likely. Beside him, it’s either Maguire, Shaw or Lindelof. Shaw has been great in central defence, but it takes away from what he is capable of at fullback. We’d go for Maguire and hope the calamities are kept to a minimum. Wan-Bissaka on the right. Dalot still looks off the pace.
Thankfully, Casemiro is available for this game. Fred and Fernandes will join him as Sabiter is suspended and Eriksen is out for the rest of the season.
Upfront, Rashford starts off the left with Sancho and the right and Weghorst upfront chasing shadows. Weghorst will know De Jong from the Dutch squad and closing his compatriot down is vital to stopping Barca.
Prediction: 1-1
We have the firepower to score against anyone, and with Casemiro in the side, we won’t let the game get away from us. Most results where the second leg is at Old Trafford should be good enough to give us a chance of going through.