Confirmed: United line-up for Reading tie

Saturday 28 January 2023 19:00

Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has named his starting XI for tonight's Emirates FA Cup fourth-round clash with Reading.

The Reds will be hoping to follow up Wednesday's 3-0 win over Nottingham Forest in the first leg of the Carabao Cup semi-final with a victory against Paul Ince's Royals this evening.

And Ten Hag is not taking the visitors lightly, making just one change to his side from the Forest match, opting to reinstate captain Harry Maguire to the backline.

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United youngsters Brandon Williams, Kobbie Mainoo, Anthony Elanga, Alejandro Garnacho and Facundo Pellistri are all among the substitutes, while centre-backs Lisandro Martinez and Raphael Varane also feature on what is a strong bench for Ten Hag.

Prior to the match, in an interview with ITV, Erik explained his decision to start Maguire.

"Harry is back," he said. "I already said yesterday [in the pre-match press conference] he was ill when he returned from the World Cup, otherwise he should have played a couple of games. But you have to play to get back into the rhythm. He did already play some games, but I think this is a good game for him to return, especially when you see the height of the opponent.

"He had some chances. But every player has to pick their chances. He is training very well, training very dominant. And that is what I want to see from him.

"[But] it’s not just about Harry. As a team, we want to achieve, we want to achieve a result this season. We need a squad. So every player has to make a performance, has to give the best he has."

Paul Ince's side includes his son Thomas in midfield, while the attack is led by former England, Liverpool and Newcastle United striker Andy Carroll. There's also plenty of Premier League experience in the Royals' squad, with ex-Southampton and West Brom striker Shane Long on the bench, and midfielders Jeff Hendrick and Junior Hoilett in the starting XI.

McShane warns of Reading's threat

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Paul McShane says his former club Reading will be hoping to cause an upset at Old Trafford this evening.

LINE-UPS

United: De Gea, Wan-Bissaka, Maguire (c), Lindelof, Malacia, Casemiro, Eriksen, Antony, Fernandes, Rashford, Weghorst.

Substitutes: Heaton, Martinez, Varane, Williams, Fred, Mainoo, Elanga, Garnacho, Pellistri.

Reading: Lumley, Yiadom (c), Holmes, McIntyre, Rahman, Ince, Hendrick, N’Diaye, Hoilett, Joao, Carroll.

Subs: Bouzanis, Dann, Long, Meite, Azeez, Guinness-Walker, Fornah, Mbengue, Craig.

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