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Manchester United predicted line-up vs Nottingham Forest as Casemiro and Joshua Zirkzee start

Joshua Zirkzee celebrates with Amad and Bruno Fernandes after scoring his second goal in the 4-0 win over Everton.
-Credit: (Image: James Gill - Danehouse/Getty Images.)


Manchester United will be targeting a swift return to winning ways when they welcome Nottingham Forest to Old Trafford in the Premier League on Saturday teatime.

United, who have won 12 of their last 13 meetings with the Midlands outfit, suffered their first defeat of the Ruben Amorim era on Wednesday evening, losing 2-0 to Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium.

After defending so well for long periods of the game, United were undone from two corners in the second half, meaning they will be determined to get back on track at the first available opportunity. They had previously won each of their last two matches.

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After overseeing victories over Bodo/Glimt and Everton in his first two Old Trafford outings, Amorim will be hoping to maintain his 100 per cent home record against Forest, who were beaten 3-0 by Manchester City in midweek.

Amorim rotated his pack once again at the Emirates, making six changes for the third game running, meaning it would be no surprise to see him maintain a similar trend against Nuno Espirito Santo's side.

However, the United boss is almost certain to stick with Andre Onana between the sticks. The Cameroonian has started every Premier League game since joining the club ahead of the start of last season and he will be eyeing a seventh league clean sheet of the campaign.

After missing the midweek trip to Arsenal through suspension, Lisandro Martinez is back available and could immediately reclaim his place on the left of the back-three. Amorim has plenty of options available to him at centre-back, but it is possible Noussair Mazraoui and Matthijs de Ligt will be chosen to join Martinez in the back line.

Leny Yoro made his long-awaited debut against Arsenal, stepping off the bench in the second half, but he might need a few substitute appearances before being unleashed from the start. Harry Maguire, meanwhile, will be hoping to cling onto his place.

Amad was a surprise victim of Amorim's rotation policy in midweek, starting on the bench. He is likely to be recalled and start in the right-wing back role. Diogo Dalot could occupy the left wing-back berth after starting on the right at the Emirates.

Kobbie Mainoo is available again after serving a one-match ban in midweek and could be recalled to the starting XI to take up residency in midfield next to Casemiro. The latter was an unused substitute against the Gunners and could benefit from Amorim's eagerness to rotate in the engine room.

As a result of Mainoo and Casemiro potentially starting alongside each other in midfield, Bruno Fernandes could be pushed back into one of the No.10 positions after starting deeper against Arsenal. Marcus Rashford and Joshua Zirkzee, who both scored twice against Everton last weekend, could also be recalled to the attack after starting the defeat to Arsenal on the bench.

A Manchester United starting XI displayed on a football pitch graphic with Old Trafford in the background.

The XI is as follows:

GK: Onana
CB: Mazraoui
CB: De Ligt
CB: Martinez
RWB: Amad
CM: Casemiro
CM: Mainoo
LWB: Dalot
RW: Fernandes
ST: Zirkzee
LW: Rashford
How Manchester United could line up for the visit of Nottingham Forest.

United predicted XI vs Nottingham Forest: Onana; Mazraoui, De Ligt, Martinez; Amad, Casemiro, Mainoo, Dalot; Fernandes, Zirkzee, Rashford.