Ruud van Nistelrooy names his first starting lineup as Man Utd manager | OneFootball

Manchester United interim manager Ruud van Nistelrooy delivered no surprises on Wednesday night with his first lineup in the Old Trafford hotseat.

The Dutchman stepped into the shoes of compatriot Erik ten Hag on Monday following the club’s decision to sack their manager of almost two and a half years.

There were four changes against Leicester City from the side Ten Hag started against West Ham United at the weekend, but nothing that wouldn’t have been expected for a Carabao Cup tie.

Andre Onana has been rested altogether, with Altay Bayindir resuming his role as the competition’s goalkeeper after starting in the previous round against Barnsley last month.

Diogo Dalot, Lisandro Martinez and Matthijs de Ligt retained their starting places in the back four. Victor Lindelof has come in for Noussair Mazraoui, having also replaced the Moroccan during Sunday’s game at the London Stadium.

Altay Bayindir is one of only four changes / Stu Forster/GettyImages

The only change in midfield saw Van Nistelrooy opt for Manuel Ugarte over Christian Eriksen, who is not in the squad, with Casemiro and Bruno Fernandes staying in. Alejandro Garnacho and Marcus Rashford continue on the flanks, but either side of Joshua Zirkzee instead of Rasmus Hojlund.

Hojlund begins on the bench alongside Mazraoui, Amad Diallo, Jonny Evans and Tom Heaton. Van Nistelrooy also retained teenagers Harry Amass, Ethan Wheatley and Jack Fletcher, as well as involving 17-year-old midfielder Jayce Fitzgerald in a first-team squad for the first time.

Amass, Fletcher and Fitzgerald will all be hoping to make their respective United debuts, with 251 academy graduates having played for the senior side in the club’s history to date. Toby Collyer, who is currently sidelined with injury, and Wheatley are the two most recent home-grown debutants.