Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

Early team news for United v Arsenal on Monday

Thursday 26 September 2019 16:52

Manchester United entertain Arsenal in the Premier League on Monday and there is good news on the injury front where several first-team players are concerned.

Paul Pogba and Mason Greenwood both completed 90 minutes during Wednesday night’s penalty shoot-out win over Rochdale in the Carabao Cup after returning from injury and illness respectively, while Ole Gunnar Solskjaer revealed Marcus Rashford may not be absent for as long as first feared.

The 21-year-old was substituted after an hour during our 2-0 defeat at West Ham on Sunday, but the manager suggested on Wednesday that the problem is not as serious as initially suspected.

“Marcus, no he’s recovering. He’s not very, very bad. We hope to see him before the international break,” said Ole in his pre-match interview with MUTV.

Video
Pogba returned to the line-up for our Carabao Cup tie against Rochdale.

Should the match against the Gunners come too soon for Rashford, Greenwood could get the nod up front after he recovered from a bout of tonsilitis to score his second goal in front of the Stretford End in a week.

Meanwhile, the return of Pogba in the centre of midfield was a welcome boost for the Reds after the France international missed the Leicester City, Astana and West Ham contests with an ankle problem.

There are, however, still fitness concerns regarding a number of other players.

Solskjaer has yet to give an update on Luke Shaw and Anthony Martial, who haven’t played since facing Crystal Palace on 24 August, but right-back Diogo Dalot and midfielder Angel Gomes have been ruled out of Monday night’s game.

Dalot has made one appearance this season, against Astana in the Europa League, while Gomes featured in Sunday’s defeat at the London Stadium.

Both were absent for the Rochdale clash, but Solskjaer said he hoped the pair would be back in contention to play soon.

“They’re injured,” Ole said. “They weren’t fit to train the last couple of days unfortunately. Hopefully they can be back for Alkmaar next week.”

Dalot has already been ruled out of the Arsenal game on Monday.

Eric Bailly and Tim Fosu-Mensah remain long-term absentees for the Reds.

Bailly is not expected to return from a knee injury suffered against Tottenham Hotspur on Tour 2019 until Christmas, while Fosu-Mensah is still recovering after undergoing surgery in April.

Ole may provide a full injury update ahead of our clash with the Gunners during his press conference on Friday, which you can watch in full via our Official App.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer will provide further injury news in his Friday press conference.

WHAT ABOUT ARSENAL?

The Gunners have been boosted by the return of three key defenders ahead of their trip to Old Trafford.

Rob Holding and Kieran Tierney started Unai Emery’s side’s 5-0 win over Nottingham Forest in the third round of the Carabao Cup, while Hector Bellerin was introduced as a 77th-minute substitute.

Centre-back Holding, who headed Arsenal’s second goal in their comprehensive home victory, hasn’t featured in a Premier League game since United''s 2-2 draw against the Gunners in December due to a cruciate ligament injury.

Bellerin has also been out for a prolonged period after rupturing his knee ligaments in January, while new signing Tierney has recovered from a hip problem and made his debut at the Emirates on Tuesday.

Signed from Celtic in August, Tierney could be in line to make his Premier League debut at Old Trafford.

Ainsley Maitland-Niles is also in contention to play after serving a one-match suspension for the second yellow card he picked up against Aston Villa.

The Londoners will, however, be without France forward Alexandre Lacazette, who suffered an ankle injury at the beginning of the month.

“Alex will need to rest and strengthen his ankle to regain full fitness,” Emery told the press on 13 September. “He has been playing through this injury for several weeks. He is likely to be back in action in October.”

Watch Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's pre-match press conference in our Official App from 10:00 BST on Friday.

Recommended: