Manchester United have handed Dean Henderson his second Premier League start for them, against former loan club Sheffield United.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has named Henderson, Paul Pogba and Alex Telles in his line-up to face the Blades at Bramall Lane, in another vital Premier League clash.
Edinson Cavani is missing through injury, as Marcus Rashford starts up front alongside Anthony Martial and Mason Greenwood. Donny van de Beek is among the substitutes.
Henderson played the second half of United's 3-2 win at Southampton, before playing his first full 90 minutes in the league for the Reds at West Ham. David de Gea was then brought back for games against RB Leipzig and Man City, but Solskjaer has again turned to Henderson — who spent two seasons on loan with the Blades — in Sheffield tonight (Thursday).
Speaking before the match, Solskjaer suggested the United squad had benefitted from an extra day or two in training, though has readied his troops for the traditionally strenuous festive schedule.
He said: “Well, we’ve had a longer spell preparing for this game than we usually have had this season, so I think the boys have enjoyed the couple of extra days of training.
“Of course, we're going into a very, very tight schedule now with six games in less than 16 days. We know we can't take any risks if there are any niggles. There are a couple of little things that we're waiting to see how they react before we pick the squad.
"It’s going to be relentless. Of course this year, with COVID, there is less to do for players and I think we will be able to recover quickly between games, so hopefully we’re ready for a tight schedule.”
United XI: Henderson; Wan-Bissaka, Lindelof, Maguire, Telles; Matic, Fernandes, Pogba; Greenwood, Rashford, Martial.
Subs: De Gea, Shaw, Fred, McTominay, Mata, James, Van de Beek.
