Midfield:
This is one part of the field where United are really short of numbers. Michael Carrick is a long-term absentee, while Marouane Fellaini and Ander Herrera are set to undergo scans on their ankle injuries. Shinji Kagawa is an option in central midfield, but van Gaal is likely to persist with the industrious duo of Darren Fletcher and Tom Cleverley in the middle of the park. United’s lack of both quality and personnel in central midfield remains an issue that needs to be addressed immediately in the last few days of the transfer window.
Juan Mata should get the nod in the hole behind the strikers, but with Adnan Januzaj and Shinji Kagawa genuine contenders for his position, the Spaniard needs to improve on his disappointing showing against the Swans.
Attack:
Robin van Persie’s return will add undoubted quality in the final third, but how Rooney and van Persie link up in van Gaal’s system will be interesting to watch. The duo have had only a few days to train with the coaching staff, and United may lack that fluidity in attack in the early stages of the game. But, given the attacking talent at van Gaal’s disposal in the form of Mata, Rooney and van Persie, the Dutchman must be confident of improving on last week’s performance against Swansea.
