Manchester United face off against Aston Villa for the second time in five days on Thursday night, with Erik ten Hag expected to make a number of changes to the side that lost to the Midlands outfit in the Premier League at the weekend. The Reds will be hoping to secure their spot in the next round by knocking Unai Emery's team out, which would go some way to avenging the Premier League defeat at Villa Park.
It was a disappointing defeat for Ten Hag and his men, and their first in the league since the start of October. The upcoming EFL Cup clash, then, provides United with a chance to get back to winning ways, while also allowing some of the club's fringe players to get much-needed minutes under their belts.
Martin Dubravka, for example, is someone that is yet to feature for the Reds since arriving from Newcastle United on loan in the summer transfer window. The 33-year-old goalkeeper was signed as competition for first-choice shot-stopper David de Gea, but the Slovak is yet to make his United debut.
