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Attendance: 73,918
Manchester United logo
FA Cup | Third Round
Jan 5, 2019 at 12.30pm UK
 
Reading logo

2-0

Mata (22' pen.), Lukaku (45')
FT(HT: 2-0)

How Manchester United could line up against Reading

Sports Mole looks at how in-form Manchester United could line up for their FA Cup third-round clash with Reading at Old Trafford.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer will be looking to make it five wins from five as interim Manchester United boss when his side welcome Reading to Old Trafford on Saturday.

The Red Devils get their FA Cup campaign underway in the third round and will be expected to progress with minimum fuss against their Championship opponents.

United have already been knocked out of one cup competition at home to a Championship outfit this season, but there is a completely different air around the club now following Jose Mourinho's exit last month.

Here, Sports Mole looks at how Solskjaer could line his side up for the match.



Possible MNU XI vs. REA

Out: Eric Bailly (suspended), Chris Smalling (foot), Marcos Rojo (unspecified)
Doubtful: Scott McTominay (unspecified)

Solskjaer has vowed to give youth a chance during his interim spell, and a home match against struggling lower-league opposition looks like a perfect time to do so.

Tahith Chong was included in the travelling squad to face Newcastle United on Wednesday night, hinting that he could be involved this weekend, while Angel Gomes has long been highly rated inside the club.

Mason Greenwood is another youngster pushing for inclusion, although Romelu Lukaku's presence up front could limit him to a substitute role with the Belgian having scored off the bench in his last two matches.

Alexis Sanchez could be set for his first start in almost two months having returned from injury against the Magpies - one of a number of changes expected to be made by Solskjaer.

The likes of Diogo Dalot, Marouane Fellaini and Matteo Darmian will be hopeful of rare starts, while Sergio Romero should come in in goal instead of David de Gea.

There are not many options for rotation at centre-back, though, with Eric Bailly suspended and Chris Smalling and Marcos Rojo still injured.

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Written by
Barney Corkhill
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Manchester United's Romelu Lukaku celebrates after scoring against Fulham on December 8, 2018
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