United boss Solskjaer to assess walking wounded ahead of City semi-final

Posted Tuesday, January 07, 2020 by PA

Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer will leave it late to make decisions on the fitness of Harry Maguire, Jesse Lingard, Anthony Martial and Luke Shaw for the Carabao Cup semi-final first leg against Manchester City.

Maguire injured a foot in the weekend’s goalless FA Cup draw at Wolves while the others all missed the match because of illness. Tahith Chong also appeared to pick up a knock at Wolves.

Paul Pogba’s ankle problem has sidelined him for a month while fellow midfielder Scott McTominay (knee) is absent for longer while Eric Bailly, Axel Tuanzebe and Timothy Fosu-Mensah may not yet be ready to return.

City have close to a fully-fit squad with defender Nicolas Otamendi back in contention after a knock.

Centre-back Aymeric Laporte and winger Leroy Sane, who have both had long-term knee conditions, are the only major absentees but both are well on course to return.

A number of players rested at the weekend, including Ederson, Kevin De Bruyne, Raheem Sterling, Gabriel Jesus, Kyle Walker, Rodri and Fernandinho, could return.

Manchester United provisional squad: De Gea, Romero, Grant, Wan-Bissaka, Dalot, Young, Jones, Lindelof, Maguire, Tuanzebe, Shaw, Williams, Laird, Fred, Garner, Gomes, Matic, Pogba, Pereira, James, Mata, Lingard, Chong, Greenwood, Martial, Rashford.

Manchester City provisional squad: Ederson, Bravo, Carson, Walker, Cancelo, Stones, Otamendi, Fernandinho, Garcia, Mendy, Angelino, Zinchenko, Gundogan, Rodri, D Silva, De Bruyne, B Silva, Mahrez, Sterling, Foden, Aguero, Jesus.