Interim Manchester United manager Ruud van Nistelrooy offered no surprises on Wednesday night with his first line-up in the Old Trafford seat.
The Dutchman put himself in the shoes of compatriot Erik ten Hag on Monday following the club’s decision to sack their coach of nearly two and a half years.
There were four changes against Leicester City from the side the Ten Hag started against West Ham United at the weekend, but nothing that wasn’t expected for a Carabao Cup tie.
Andre Onana has been fully rested, with Altay Bayindir resuming his role as goalkeeper in the competition after starting in the previous round against Barnsley last month.
Diogo Dalot, Lisandro Martinez and Matthijs de Ligt retained their starting positions in the back four. Victor Lindelof has replaced Noussair Mazraoui, who also replaced the Moroccan during Sunday’s game at the London Stadium.
The only change in midfield was Van Nistelrooy opting for Manuel Ugarte ahead of Christian Eriksen, who is not in the squad, with Casemiro and Bruno Fernandes. Alejandro Garnacho and Marcus Rashford continue in the wings, but either side of Joshua Zirkzee instead of Rasmus Hojlund.
Hojlund starts 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 featuring 17-year-old midfielder Jayce Fitzgerald in a first-team squad for the first time.
Amass, Fletcher and Fitzgerald hope to make their respective United debuts, with 251 academy graduates having played for the senior team in the club’s history to date. Toby Collyer, who is currently sidelined through injury, and Wheatley are the two most recent debutants at home.
