Manchester United return to Premier League action on Saturday when they host bottom club Tottenham Hotspur at Old Trafford. Michael Carrick faces a selection headache ahead of the match, with several key players carrying injury doubts.
Carrick's strongest XI is clear
Senne Lammens is comfortably first choice in goal, even before considering the injury issues with Karl Darlow and Tom Heaton. The Belgium international has been criticised after the own goal against Fulham, but he remains a vast improvement on predecessors Andre Onana and Altay Bayindir.
Diogo Dalot and Luke Shaw are the first-choice full-backs, while Harry Maguire and Lisandro Martinez are the trusted centre-backs. Leny Yoro could force his way into the defence after a stellar performance for France during the international break, but the Maguire-Martinez partnership still seems the safest bet.
Midfield and attack decisions
In midfield, Kobbie Mainoo is guaranteed a start if fit after pulling out of England duty, alongside captain Bruno Fernandes. The third midfield spot is less clear, with Youri Tielemans and Andrey Santos struggling to nail down the position and Mason Mount also a risk.
Carlos Baleba looks primed to make his full debut. He has yet to appear for United since his summer move from Brighton, having been sidelined by an ankle injury picked up in pre-season. He featured in a behind-closed-doors friendly against Lausanne-Sport last week and is backed by the recruitment department to be the missing piece of the squad.
In attack, Bryan Mbeumo and Marcus Rashford should man both flanks, with Benjamin Sesko leading the line. However, Sesko is an injury doubt after withdrawing from the Slovenia squad during the international break.
Injury concerns remain
Sesko is not the only doubt. Mainoo and Rashford both withdrew from England duty, and Baleba, though back in full training, is not guaranteed to be fit enough to start.
Carrick knows exactly what his strongest side looks like and who he should pick against Spurs, but whether the list of injury concerns allows him to select it remains to be seen.
