Man United XI vs Man City: Confirmed lineup, latest team news and injuries for Premier League derby today
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer dealt with a defensive injury headache as Manchester United prepared for a crucial derby showdown with Manchester City.
The Norwegian boldly and successfully switched to a three-man defence last weekend for a 3-0 win over Tottenham that likely saved his job and cost Spurs counterpart Nuno Espirito Santo his, with the returning Raphael Varane adding much-needed composure and stability alongside out-of-sorts captain Harry Maguire and Victor Lindelof.
Eric Bailly deputised for the injured Lindelof for Tuesday’s Champions League tie away at Atalanta, though another injury sustained by Varane forced Solskjaer to abandon his new system before half-time, with Cristiano Ronaldo’s brace eventually rescuing a point.
Varane - who had worked his way back from a groin injury suffered at the Uefa Nations League finals with France - now has a hamstring problem and is set to miss at least another month of action in a major blow to United’s hopes of a sustained upturn in fortunes.
Solskjaer has Lindelof back to face City, allowing the Swede to return to a back three alongside Maguire and Bailly. However, Edinson Cavani misses out through injury.
“With all the technology now you expect him to be out for four or five weeks with the scans that we’ve seen of him,” Solskjaer said of Varane at his pre-derby press conference on Friday.
“It’s a blow for us because Raphael has come in and been really influential. But we have big squads to cope with some absentees at times.
“Victor is still a doubt but hopefully he can come back in tomorrow. I would expect him to be ready but I can’t promise.”
United’s only other confirmed absentee alongside Varane is Paul Pogba, who continues to serve a suspension for his wild red-card challenge on Naby Keita during the 5-0 humiliation by Liverpool last month.
Man United XI: De Gea; Bailly, Maguire, Lindelof; Wan-Bissaka, McTominay, Fred, Shaw; Fernandes; Ronaldo, Greenwood.
Subs: Henderson, Telles, Matic, Dalot, Martial, Van de Beek, Sancho, Lingard, Rashford.
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