Man Utd interim manager Ralf Rangnick will name his first Reds side when Crystal palace visits Old Trafford on Sunday.
The match will not be shown live on TV in the UK because it was switched as the result of the win over Arsenal being pushed back to Thursday.
Rangnick met the squad at Carrington on Friday afternoon, and will have his first training session on Saturday before Patrick’s Viera’s impressive side provide the opposition.
The 3-2 win against the Gunners, in Michael Carrick final game in charge as caretaker manage, lifted the Reds to seventh in the table, three points adrift of the fourth-place West Ham United.
Rangnick will be accessing his option for the clash after watching on from the director’s box on Thursday.
Aaron Wan-bissaka and Nemanja Matic joined the list of absentees after sustaining injuries. With the former, no doubt desperate to line up against his old club.
The right back hurt his hand when Callum Hudson Odoi stood on it during the 1-1 draw against Chelsea.
Carrick told us before the Arsenal clash that it was “tough and go” over Wan-bissaka’s involvement, which suggest he may have a chance against Palace.
Matic has a hamstring problem which was not risked.
Luke Shaw continues to be sidelined after sustaining a second head injury in a short period of time. During the defeat against Watford Carrick explained:
“Hopefully he won’t be too far away”.
Diogo Dalot and Alex Telles deputised to good effect against Arsenal in the full-backs slots, while Harry Maguire came back into the center of the defense as Captain after his one-game suspension.
Raphael Varane, Paul Pogba and Edinson Cavani are working on their recoveries, while Amad and Phil Jones were among the substitute on Thursday night.
Mason Greenwood has still not played since returning from testing positive for COVID-19 but he has been on the bench for the past two feature.
Crystal palace team news
Vieira didn’t attend the pre-match press conference due to personal reasons, with assistant manager Osian Roberts taking over the media duties. The former Arsenal captain is still expected to be in the dugout at old Trafford on Sunday.
Centre-back Joachim Andersen has been out with a thigh injury, but is responding well to treatment. Roberts said:
“It’s day by day but we’ll wait and see.”
James McArthur and Nathan Ferguson looks set to continue on the sidelines and Joel Ward is suspended after accumulating five yellow cards this season.
