Kick-off: 3PM at Old Trafford
Referee: Lee Mason
Team News
Manchester United manager Louis van
Gaal has major defensive woes ahead of West Ham's visit to Old Trafford on
Saturday.
They come into this weekend’s
fixture after a sensational defeat at Leicester, where a poor defensive showing
cost them, blowing a 3-1 lead to lose 5-3.
Defenders Chris Smalling, Phil
Jones and Jonny Evans have all been sidelined with injuries, while Tyler
Blackett is serving a suspension after his red card in the shock defeat.
New Argentine signing Marcos Rojo
is the only recognised senior central defender available for the game.
The injury plagued defence means
versatile midfielder Darren Fletcher could be asked to take up a centre-back
role.
Van Gaal has also signaled that he
will be implementing more youth players into the first team. 19-year-old Paddy
McNair and fellow youth defender Tom Thorpe could be handed first team debuts
and are set to start on the bench.
The indication from the Dutch boss
that youngsters will get their chance could also mean a competitive debut for
left-back Luke Shaw.
"We have nine injuries and one
suspension with Blackett," said Van Gaal on Thursday. "The younger
players can have their chance now."
"All the three right-sided
centre-halves are out, I don't know how long they will be out for."
"Evans is a very difficult
one. His bone is bruised a lot and we have to wait and see, to evaluate it."
"Smalling yesterday ran out of
the training session because he had stiff legs."
"We have to see what that
means but I don't take risks with players. I have to admit that I have never
been in this situation before."
Ashley Young (groin), Michael
Carrick (ankle), Jesse Lingard (knee) and Marouane Fellaini (ankle) are all
still unavailable.
Asked if promoting more youth
(McNair and Thorpe) to the first team at an important time of the season was a
big risk, Van Gaal replied: "They are always ready, I think.
"They have hunger to play the
game and Manchester United youth education has a certain level that can provide
that."
"It's a big difference, but in
one game you can show yourself."
The travelling side have injury
problems of their own with midfielder Cheikhou Kouyate set to miss out. The
Senegal international is ruled out due to a groin injury, which he suffered in
the 3-1 victory over Liverpool and could be missing for up to five weeks.
Hammers captain Kevin Nolan is back
in training after suffering a fractured shoulder but will not be considered at
Old Trafford.
Matt Jarvis (thigh), Joey O'Brien
(knee) and Andy Carroll (ankle) are also missing but James Collins is in
contention after his substitute appearance last weekend.
Summary
United have made a poor start under
their new Dutch coach and currently sit down in 12th in the Premier League
table, with just a single win from their first five games.
West Ham have lost 10 of the last
11 league meetings between the two clubs but will go into the next game already
four places above their struggling opponents in the table.
Sam Allardyce’s side have been on
form away from home, they are unbeaten on the road after following up a 3-1 win
over Crystal Palace with a 2-2 draw to Hull City.
Possible line-ups
Man United (4-3-1-2): De Gea;
Rafael, Thorpe, Rojo, Shaw; Blind, Herrera, Di Maria; Rooney; RVP, Falcao.
West Ham (4-4-2): Adrian;
Jenkinson, Tomkins, Reid, Cresswell; Amalfitano, Noble, Song, Downing; Sakho,
Valencia.
Prediction
Manchester United’s total of five
points from five games is their worst haul at this stage of a season since
1989-90. West Ham could exploit the weakened United defence meaning a point is
very possibly for Big Sam's men. Although, despite United's unpredictable
defence, the attack is still superb with new signing Angel Di Maria already in
sensational form for his new club.
Prediction: Man United 3-2 West Ham
By @LeeGormley
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