Manchester United will be without five players for the trip to Moldova on Thursday. The Reds are looking to make amends for last week’s unexpected 1-0 Europa League loss to Real Sociedad but will be without the in-form Marcus Rashford, who has scored three times in his last four games.
Meanwhile, Donny van de Beek, Martin Dubravka and Aaron Wan-Bissaka are also out while Anthony Martial continues to nurse his Achilles injury. Erik ten Hag will be able to name a stronger line-up than he may have expected given recent Premier League fixture postponement amid the passing of The Queen.
Their clash with Crystal Palace on Sunday was called off, with this weekend’s match against Leeds having to be rearranged. United have not played since the defeat to Sociedad, before which they held a minute’s silence in memory of The Queen just hours after her death was announced.
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As a result, players have had a full week’s rest meaning fringe players may not be handed the game time they would have hoped for ordinarily. Cristiano Ronaldo could start a second successive game for the first time this season given the omissions of Rashford and Martial.
He will likely be flanked by Antony - who would make a third consecutive start since his deadline day arrival - and Jadon Sancho in front of a midfield trio of Casemiro, Christian Eriksen and Bruno Fernandes.
The back five are set to be strong as well with Diogo Dalot, Raphael Varane, Lisandro Martinez and Tyrell Malacia poised to guard David de Gea. Luke Shaw is back from injury but is unlikely to start the game while Fred and Scott McTominay could also begin from the bench.
Predicted XI: De Gea; Dalot, Varane, Martinez, Malacia; Casemiro, Eriksen, Fernandes; Sancho, Ronaldo, Antony.
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