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Manchester Evening News
Manchester Evening News
Sport
Dan Brown

Casemiro and Pellistri start - Manchester United fans name starting line-up they want to see vs Reading

Manchester United supporters have called on Erik ten Hag to name a strong side for the FA Cup fourth round tie against Championship outfit Reading on Saturday night.

The Reds defeated Everton in the last round of the competition, thanks to strikes from Marcus Rashford and Antony and an own goal from Conor Coady. Ten Hag's men secured an important first-leg victory over Nottingham Forest in their Carabao Cup semi-final clash in midweek and will be looking for another positive result against Reading.

United are currently the only team in England still competing on all four fronts and have won 10 of their last 12 matches in all competitions. The Reds currently sit fourth in the Premier League table - level on points with Newcastle United. While securing Champions League football is the ultimate aim this season, the club are desperate to win their first trophy since 2017.

ALSO READ: Ten Hag sends message to United board ahead of transfer deadline day

With the clash against Reading providing the United with an opportunity to go one step closer to winning a trophy, MEN Sport's readers have opted to choose a strong line-up for the match against Paul Ince's men, while also giving a few youngsters a chance to impress.

Goalkeeper - Jack Butland

Butland signed for United on loan until the end of the season earlier this month, but he is yet to make an appearance since arriving at Old Trafford. Tom Heaton started in the Carabao Cup win over Charlton earlier this season, while first-choice shot-stopper David de Gea played in the FA Cup third-round win over Everton.

Defenders - Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Victor Lindelof, Harry Maguire, Tyrell Malacia

With Diogo Dalot still out injured, and Luke Shaw unlikely to play due to illness, it is almost certainly going to be Wan-Bissaka and Malacia in the full-back positions. United fans want to see the pair continue after impressing for the Reds in recent weeks, with Ten Hag also praising the two defenders for how well they have performed.

Maguire has fallen down the pecking order and looks set to feature less frequently in the Premier League, so it makes sense for the England international to get minutes in the cup. He is expected to partner Lindelof at the heart of defence, which would allow first-choice pairing Lisandro Martinez and Raphael Varane to rest amid the hectic fixture schedule.

Midfielders - Scott McTominay, Fred, Casemiro

Christian Eriksen has been looking like he would benefit from a break, and Bruno Fernandes - while he is desperate to play in every single match - also needs some rest. Casemiro played the full 90 minutes against Forest in midweek, but United fans still want to see him start in midfield.

Both Fred and McTominay have fallen down the pecking order in recent months and have been forced to settle for minutes off the bench. However, with the Reds expected to dominate the ball against Reading, they should get the chance to impress at Old Trafford.

Forwards - Facundo Pellistri, Wout Weghorst, Alejandro Garnacho

Although Rashford has been in scintillating form, it makes sense to give him a rest with so many matches coming up in the next few weeks. Meanwhile, Pellistri - who made just his second first-team appearance against Forest - will be itching to be named in the starting line-up.

On the other flank, talented youngster Garnacho should get another chance to start. The Argentine has scored two goals this term, as well as registering five assists. Reds supporters want to see Weghorst lead the line, and with Anthony Martial still not back from injury, he almost certainly will.

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