Early team news for Canaries clash
Manchester United are preparing for Ralf Rangnick's first away game in interim charge, as the Reds make the long trip to Norwich City on Saturday.
The Champions League tie with Young Boys in midweek afforded the boss to get a good look at most of his squad, including handing first-team debuts to Tom Heaton, Charlie Savage and Zidane Iqbal.
There were 11 changes to the side on duty after Rangnick had kept the same line-up for Crystal Palace that had earned a 3-2 win over Arsenal during Michael Carrick's caretaker spell at the helm.
Aaron Wan-Bissaka was taken off on a stretcher after the final whistle on Wednesday, after colliding with the hoardings when reaching a neat pass by substitute Iqbal.
Rangnick suggested the defender sustained a couple of injuries, to his knee and wrist, which could mean Diogo Dalot starts at right-back again, at Carrow Road. Luke Shaw returned in place of Alex Telles on the opposite flank, following his recent lay-off.
Man-of-the-Match Mason Greenwood enhanced his claims for a start in East Anglia with a brilliant goal and accomplished performance, following his assist when coming off the bench against Palace.
"There were two aspects to it," said Ralf, when asked about his selection for the Young Boys tie. "On the one side, I wanted to give game-time to the players who played today and see them in a competitive level and, on the other hand, rest the others who played on Sunday.
"We had a long training session with those players today and we will have two more normal training sessions with them in order to prepare them for the Norwich game tomorrow [Thursday] and on Friday.”
Such planning should stand the Reds in good stead for the clash with the Canaries, although the boss has suggested the game could come too early for Raphael Varane and Edinson Cavani, even though they are back in training. The experienced pair will not be rushed as they bid to recover full fitness after injury. Paul Pogba remains an absentee and Anthony Martial appears to have been ruled out of the match with a knee problem.
Highlights: United 1 Young Boys 1
Watch the pick of the action from Old Trafford, including Mason Greenwood’s stunner…
NORWICH'S TEAM NEWS
Dean Smith has taken over as manager and the former Aston Villa boss has invested faith in loanees Brandon Williams and Billy Gilmour. Brandon, of course, as a United player, is ineligible for the teatime kick-off.
Mathias Normann should be available again after a pelvic issue but Milot Rashica and Christoph Zimmermann look set to be ruled out. Young midfielder Todd Cantwell is back after a COVID-related absence.