Manchester United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is lacking options in the centre of midfield for Sunday's meeting with Sheffield United.
Solskjaer confirmed on Friday that the Red Devils are keeping tabs on a number of midfield targets ahead of the January transfer window, amid continued injury issues ahead of the trip to Bramall Lane.
Paul Pogba remains absent due to injury and is currently undergoing rehab in Miami.
The World Cup winner could be missing until the new year, and has been joined on the sidelines by Scott McTominay, who has his own ankle issue.
“Scotty hurt his ankle and will be out for a couple of weeks," stated Solskjaer, for whom Nemanja Matic is available - but has only just returned from a month on the sidelines.
That leaves Fred and Andres Pereira as the likely starting pair in midfield this weekend, with youngster Joe Garner likely to be on the bench.
Luke Shaw and Axel Tuanzebe are available but lacking match fitness, while club captain Ashley Young is available after suspension.
Whether he returns to the starting lineup at the expense of youngster Brandon Williams is another matter however.
Eric Bailly, Timothy Fosu-Mensah and Diogo Dalot are stepping up their rehabilitation from injury, but all will miss out.
Sheffield United will be without Dean Henderson for the encounter, with the on-loan stopper unable to play against his parent club.
Skipper John Egan is also a doubt, after clashing heads with Andreas Cornelius during the Republic of Ireland's 1-1 draw with Denmark on Monday
Manchester United squad
Goalkeepers: David de Gea, Lee Grant, Sergio Romero
Defenders: Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Ashley Young, Phil Jones, Victor Lindelof, Axel Tuanzebe, Harry Maguire, Luke Shaw, Brandon Williams
Midfielders: Fred, James Garner, Juan Mata, Nemanja Matic, Andreas Pereira, Jesse Lingard, Tahith Chong
Forwards: Anthony Martial, Marcus Rashford, Mason Greenwood
