Predicted XI: [4-2-3-1] Mainoo & Eriksen in midfield? Amad to start on the right-wing? Hojlund fit to face Wigan? Prediction Man United XI to face Wigan today
Manchester United start their Emirates FA Cup journey on Monday evening when they travel to the DW Stadium to face Wigan Athletic. Erik ten Hag will need to get something working well if United are going to make the fourth round of the FA Cup this season.
Wigan are a team that United should be beating easily but this season these are the matches that United will massively struggle with and they will need to fight hard against Wigan. United are two players down with Sergio Reguilon returning to Spurs and Donny van de Beek out on loan.
Wigan head into this match close to the relegation zone in League One, sitting in 18th place just nine points from the bottom place in the league. United sit in eighth place in the Premier League, 14 points from the top of the league – which seems an impossible feat for United now this season.
Predicted Manchester United Starting XI – 4-2-3-1
Onana;
Wan-Bissaka, Varane, Evans, Dalot;
Mainoo, Eriksen;
Amad, Fernandes, Garnacho;
Hojlund
Goalkeeper: Onana
Andre Onana has had a terrible season at United so far and it seems that he will be available for the next two matches with his African Cup of Nations call up being delayed. He has the ingredients for a good goalkeeper but his performances have not been great with many mistakes.
That said, he has not had a settled defence or midfield ahead of him so when the injured players are all back, he will then be expected to stand up and perform to the best of his abilities. Against Wigan, United will be expected to start performing as they should beat them easily.
That said, United make these ‘easy on paper’ matches look to hard and mundane which add to the questions being asked at this time. Altay Bayindir looks like he will have to wait for a few more matches to make his debut as the United goalkeeper, which seems strange to be fair.
Defenders: Wan-Bissaka, Varane, Evans, Dalot
United’s defence is not in great shape at this time. The injuries the club has with Victor Lindelof, Harry Maguire, Lisandro Martinez, Luke Shaw and Tyrell Malacia is a massive loss for the club and one of the reasons why Onana has looked inferior this season.
That all seems set to improve ion January with just two matches for United to play and a whole host of injured playing coming back. Against Wigan, Ten Hag could have Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Diogo Dalot in the fullback ranks with Shaw injured and Sergio Reguilon sent back to Spurs.
In the centre of the defence, United could be set to have Raphael Varane and Jonny Evans – two experienced players starting the match with Willy Kambwala and Rhys Bennett on the bench, should they be required – and they could if United need them. It is good to blood in youth.
Midfield: Mainoo, Eriksen
United’s midfield is another area which has bene left with problems due to injury. Casemiro has been out for most of the season so far and Christian Eriksen has only recently returned to action. Mason Mount has also had an injury problem leaving United short in these ranks.
Kobbie Mainoo has been a revelation this season. His ability and guile are both admirable and he looks set to become a star for the club, providing he continues to develop at the rate he has been this season. He could find a starting position against Wigan, which would be good for him.
Eriksen could start alongside him, giving United and youth and experience midfield, which is something that has worked for United in the past but there has been a long period of failure with players not quite developing as the club had hoped. More youth could be on the bench too.
