Squawka
·7 November 2024
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Yahoo sportsSquawka
·7 November 2024
Man United (4-2-3-1): Onana; Mazraoui, Martinez, De Ligt, Dalot; Ugarte, Casemiro; Rashford, Fernandes, Garnacho; Zirkzee
PAOK (4-2-3-1): Kotarski; Jonny, Kedziora, Colley, Baba; Camara, Schwab; Despodov, Zivkovic, Taison; Thomas
Red Devils legend Ruud van Nistelrooy will again take interim charge of the team, as they face Greek outfit PAOK on Thursday evening in the Europa League (8pm kick-off, live on TNT Sports 2).
Neither team has secured a win yet in this season’s European campaign and we feel a positive result in Manchester could kick-start their hopes of qualification.
A 4-1 win for Sporting CP over Manchester City in Tuesday’s Champions League clash, will have heightened the expectation that Amorim can turn around Man United’s fortunes.
It’s been 11 years since the Red Devils last won the Premier League title and many feel a big overhaul is needed to establish themselves as European giants again.
In the meantime, the current crop of players could be playing for their futures at Old Trafford, with the new man watching on from afar.
Amorim is likely to give everyone a clean slate, but he will be closely monitoring what the Man United squad is showing before he starts his work on the training ground.
One plus for the new head coach is the return to goalscoring form of his fellow countryman, Bruno Fernandes.
The Man United skipper had failed to find the net in the opening 14 games of the season, but has responded with a bang since the sacking of Erik ten Hag.
After bagging twice in the 5-2 EFL Cup success over Leicester City, Fernandes then opened the scoring from the spot in the 1-1 home draw with Chelsea.
Having scored two goals in last season’s Champions League campaign, it seems like a matter of time before the captain is back amongst the goals in Europe.
Leny Yoro handed Man United a major boost on Wednesday, returning to training for the first time since pre-season.
The Frenchman has not played a competitive game yet, after suffering a broken bone in his foot in the summer, with Thursday’s game likely to come too soon.
Van Nistelrooy is still missing an England defensive duo, with Luke Shaw and Harry Maguire not yet ready to return.
With Kobbie Mainoo also still out with a hamstring problem, Casimero could be asked to fill the void again in the middle of the park.
Marcus Rashford was spotted training away from the rest of the group earlier this week, but Van Nistelrooy played down injury concerns.
Three of PAOK’s most experienced players — Dejan Lovren, Vieirinha and Mbwana Samatta — are not registered for their Europa League fixtures.
Giannis Konstantelias is absent from the travelling squad, but former Chelsea midfielder Tiemoue Bakayoko has made the trip despite missing the weekend’s match against PAS Lamia due to injury.