Manchester United new boy Manuel Ugarte will not be able to make his Red Devils debut in Sunday's Premier League blockbuster with Liverpool at Old Trafford.
The Uruguayan joined from Paris Saint-Germain on a permanent deal on transfer deadline day, but Premier League rules state that players must be registered by 12pm on Friday in order to be eligible.
As a result, Ugarte will have to be patient for his Man United baptism, and Erik ten Hag is also without all of Mason Mount (thigh), Leny Yoro (foot), Rasmus Hojlund (hamstring), Tyrell Malacia (knee), Luke Shaw (calf) and Victor Lindelof (toe) due to injury.
With Ugarte watching on helplessly, Casemiro and Kobbie Mainoo should continue to link arms at the base of the midfield, but Mount's injury will force the Red Devils into an attacking rejig.
The most obvious solution would be to finally give Joshua Zirkzee his first start and move Bruno Fernandes to the number 10 slot, while Alejandro Garnacho could hardly have done more to demote Marcus Rashford to the bench.
Amad Diallo has also justified his selection on the right flank, and by scoring from Noussair Mazraoui's assist in the loss to Brighton & Hove Albion, the Ivorian scored the first Man United Premier League goal involving two African players.
Mazraoui, Diogo Dalot, Lisandro Martinez and Andre Onana will all reprise their roles in defence, but Matthijs de Ligt is pushing for a first start in place of Harry Maguire.
Manchester United possible starting lineup:
Onana; Mazraoui, De Ligt, Martinez, Dalot; Mainoo, Casemiro; Diallo, Fernandes, Garnacho; Zirkzee
> Click here to see how Liverpool could line up for this clash
Ben Knapton
