Manchester United will be under pressure to get a win against Luton Town at 3pm this afternoon following their midweek Champions League defeat.
The loss to Copenhagen means United have lost nine games already this season and are at severe risk of being knocked out of Europe altogether. Luton could be a real banana skin for Erik ten Hag.
The Hatters held Liverpool to a 1-1 draw last time out and will be smelling blood against a leaky United defence. Anything but a win for the Reds will ramp up the pressure on Ten Hag.
Jonny Evans has joined the list of absentees after picking up an injury but fans are hoping this weekend sees the much-awaited return of Kobbie Mainoo.
The teenager has been named in several matchday squads but is yet to play a senior game this season as the club carefully manage his comeback from a long-term ankle injury sustained in pre-season.
Erik ten Hag insists there is no issue between him and Raphael Varane amid the centre-half's curious lack of playing time.
Varane has started in only one of United's last seven games and Ten Hag selected the 35-year-old Jonny Evans over him against Sheffield United, Manchester City, Fulham and Copenhagen.
ads 1 2Asked if there was a wider issue to Varane's absence from starting XIs, Ten Hag said:
The agent of David Raya has claimed that United were interested in his player over the summer but never progressed past an initial enquiry.
Raya was in high demand over the summer window after informing Brentford of his desire to leave. Thomas Frank's side were receptive to a sale and the manager often spoke openly about their £40million-plus valuation.
"This summer, he had just one year left on his contract with Brentford and Arsenal was the club that showed the most concrete interest and have always been our priority," Munell told AFTV.
Kobbie Mainoo has provided a positive update on his fitness as supporters await his first senior appearance of the season.
His career progress was hampered during the defeat to Real Madrid when he suffered an injury which kept him out until October.
With the Reds' midfield a current area of concern, fans have been itching to see the 18-year-old welcomed back to the first-team squad.
United without five players vs Luton
Jonny Evans is out for United in their Premier League home fixture against Luton Town on Saturday.
Evans came off after 15 minutes in the 4-3 Champions League defeat to Copenhagen on Wednesday night and United are yet to conclude their assessment of his injury.
The 35-year-old has started five of the last seven games and he was replaced by Raphael Varane in Denmark. Varane has only started one of United's last seven games.
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