Jose Mourinho's Manchester United midfield selection key to Middlesbrough clash

                                 

Man Utd head to Middlesbrough on Sunday with a number of problems affecting their engine-room.

United’s midfield minefield

Paul Pogba limped off in Thursday’s 1-0 victory over FC Rostov and to add to the Reds' injury woes Daley Blind - a potential stand-in - was also being forced off through injury.

Pogba is unlikely to be back in time to play on Sunday after damaging his right hamstring, while Ander Herrera’s suspension leaves United short in the middle of the park.

Michael Carrick is set to return alongside Marouane Fellaini in a pairing rarely utilised by Jose Mourinho.

Three or four at the back?

The wing-back system which has worked so well for Antonio Conte at Chelsea this season didn’t help United on Thursday.

Antonio Valencia did look dangerous on occasion down the right-hand side although it was little more than he would offer playing in a back four.

Mourinho might stick to his guns, although with Blind a doubt and Reds fans seeing enough of Phil Jones at wing-back to last a lifetime, a flat back-four seems more likely.

Punish the ‘rats’

Jose Mourinho said he knew ‘the names’ of the players who cost ex-Middlesbrough manager Aitor Karanka his job in the week.

Karanka is a good friend of the Portuguese, with the Reds manager joking the Spaniard - his former Real Madrid assistant - deserved to be sacked after saving them from relegation to League One and getting them promoted to the Premier League.

So what better way to do his pal a favour than to beat the players who saw him leave the Riverside.

Boro’s response

Although Mourinho will be keen to avenge his friend, players are coften galvanised to come together in the wake of a once a manager’s sacking.

A new coach will come in and the squad have a chance to impress whoever that might be, should the fight to remain in the Premier League not be enough to motivate them.

Rejuvenated Leicester City beat Liverpool and reached the Champions League quarter-finals after Claudio Ranieri’s sacking and United need to be careful lightning doesn’t strike again.

Rooney’s point to prove

Wayne Rooney wasn’t included in Gareth Southgate’s England squad to face Germany and Lithuania despite declaring himself fit.

The England and United captain could make a comeback from injury on Sunday and might be needed given their midfield absentees and Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s suspension.

Rooney’s sceptics are becoming increasingly vocal but the North East could provide him with a platform to show he still deserves to be involved in the national side.

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By padi on Sunday, 19 March 2017