MANCHESTER UNITED boss Ralf Rangnick seems set to be without three key players for Friday night’s FA Cup showdown with Middlesbrough.
Manchester United boss Ralf Rangnick seems set to be without three key players for Friday night’s FA Cup showdown with Middlesbrough. The Red Devils go into the game looking to make the 5th round of the competition. It’s the first time the two teams have met since 2017, back when Jose Mourinho was manager.
United beat Aston Villa 1-0 in their last FA Cup clash, with Scott McTominay scoring the only goal of the game.
And, now, the Manchester Evening News have published the Red Devils’ squad for tonight’s showdown with Middlesbrough.
United appear to be without Victor Lindelof, who has spent some time back in Sweden following a traumatic break-in at his family home and has recently fallen ill.
They’re also missing Edinson Cavani and Jesse Lingard, with Rangnick saying on Friday the pair had both asked for some time off.
And Eric Bailly has missed the match as well.
Rangnick confirmed on Friday the four players wouldn’t be involved, saying: “Edi Cavani will only return on the weekend.
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“Victor Lindelof has been ill the whole week and is not training. So he will also miss tomorrow’s game.
“The same is true with Jesse [Lingard] – he asked me and the club if we could give him a couple of days off, just to clear up his mind.
“Eric Bailly came back yesterday.
“He has some problems, a swollen ankle, and will therefore not be a part of the squad tomorrow.”
Lingard, however, has since taken to social media to insist he didn’t ask for time off.
The England international wanted to leave Old Trafford in January, with Newcastle and West Ham both keen on a transfer.
But Lingard has insisted it was the club, rather than him, who decided he miss the next match.
“The club advised me to have time off due to personal reasons!” he said.
“But my headspace is clear and I’ll always be professional when called upon and give 100 percent.”
According to the MEN, David De Gea will also miss the match because he’s not been spotted with the rest of the squad.
That means Dean Henderson is likely to start, with Tom Heaton and Lee Grant also in contention.
United have taken full-backs Diogo Dalot, Luke Shaw, Aaron Wan-Bissaka, with Alex Telles another player absent having just returned from Brazil.
