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Manchester Evening News
Manchester Evening News
Sport
Liam Wood

Van de Beek starts as Manchester United fans pick line-up vs Aston Villa

Manchester United will have to make at least two changes for the second part of their double header with Aston Villa - and there could be more.

Having scored the winner against the same opponents in the FA Cup on Monday night, Scott McTominay is set to miss out through suspension at Villa Park this afternoon (5.30pm).

Luke Shaw is also banned.

There is better news for United on the injury front, though, after Ralf Rangnick confirmed a quadruple boost in that Phil Jones, Harry Maguire, Jadon Sancho and five-time Ballon d'Or winner Cristiano Ronaldo have all been passed fit.

Here is the starting XI that Manchester Evening News readers have selected to face Villa;

Goalkeeper - David de Gea

Perhaps the easiest decision Rangnick has to make right now. Dean Henderson is an outstanding goalkeeper in his own right and, last campaign, managed to displace the long-serving Spaniard. Put simply, though, David de Gea has since put himself in an un-droppable position and has been a rare shining light this season.

Defenders - Diogo Dalot, Raphael Varane, Harry Maguire, Alex Telles

Alex Telles for suspended England international Shaw is one enforced change for United in the back four.

However, given that Jones and Victor Lindelof are both available, it should come as no guarantee that the United captain Maguire will return to the line-up and partner £34million summer signing Raphael Varane.

You would expect Rangnick to go down that route, though, and most fans seemingly agree with the German.

Diogo Dalot picked up a war wound during the FA Cup tie on Monday night, but soldiered on and he continues to edge out Aaron Wan-Bissaka when it comes to public opinion.

Midfielders - Donny van de Beek, Fred, Bruno Fernandes

Restricted to just 67 minutes in the Premier League this season, Donny van de Beek has been short-changed during his time as a United player, but could this afternoon provide him with a huge opportunity?

McTominay is suspended and, realistically, his biggest challenge to start comes from Nemanja Matic.

Needless to say, United fans are urging Rangnick to opt for the more attacking option there and let van de Beek off the leash alongside Bruno Fernandes.

Could that be the combination that gets the team firing, once again, at Villa Park?

Forwards - Jadon Sancho, Cristiano Ronaldo, Marcus Rashford

Ronaldo is back from a minor issue and will start for United against Villa. Surely?

Having scored 14 goals in 21 appearances since re-signing for the club this summer, the five-time Ballon d'Or winner has lived up to his part of the bargain.

Despite their struggles, Sancho and Marcus Rashford have been chosen by supporters to support him.

That leaves Mason Greenwood and Edinson Cavani waiting in the wings for their chance and, in terms of formation, would see United shape up in a variation of 4-3-3.

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