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Manchester Evening News
Manchester Evening News
Sport
Richard Fay

Manchester United's two different squads for West Brom practice matches revealed

Manchester United utilised a different squad in each of their two practice matches against West Brom on Friday afternoon.

United hosted the Championship side at Old Trafford as they gear up for their return to Premier League action next week.

United fielded two very different sides for the matches, with the first group arriving just after midday, while the other group began to arrive around two hours later.

MEN Sport understands United organised two separate hour-long matches, with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer keen to use as many players as possible ahead of a packed fixture schedule.

Paul Pogba and Bruno Fernandes both arrived as part of the first group of players in what seemed to be a side geared up to attack.

Anthony Martial, Marcus Rashford, Mason Greenwood and Daniel James were also pictured arriving by MEN photographers, while the defensive options were slightly weaker.

Eric Bailly, Axel Tuanzebe and Teden Mengi were the three recognised central defensive options who arrived while Sergio Romero and Nathan Bishop were the two goalkeepers spotted.

The squad for the second match appeared to include the club's better defensive options with club captain Harry Maguire arriving along with Victor Lindelof, Luke Shaw and Aaron Wan-Bissaka.

David de Gea was also involved in the second encounter, with Fred, Scott McTominay and James Garner some of the midfielders to be included.

Odion Ighalo was pictured arriving for the later kick-off as Solskjaer continues to deliberate over his squad selection for the trip to Spurs.

Joel Pereira, Lee Grant and Phil Jones were not pictured arriving for either match by photographers at the stadium. It was reported earlier in the week that Jones had suffered an injury scare in training.

Players pictured in first group of arrivals

Romero, Bishop; Bailly, Tuanzebe, Mengi, Williams, Dalot, Fosu-Mensah; Matic, Pogba, Fernandes, Gomes; James, Greenwood, Rashford, Martial

Players pictured in second group of arrivals

De Gea; Wan-Bissaka, Maguire, Lindelof, Shaw; Garner, Fred, McTominay, Pereira, Lingard, Chong, Mata; Ighalo.

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