Erik ten Hag

Team news: United v Bournemouth

Friday 08 December 2023 13:50

Erik ten Hag and his Manchester United team will have been buoyed by Wednesday night's performance and result, a 2-1 win over Chelsea.

The positive news has continued to roll in as the week has progressed, with table neighbours Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur dropping important points on Thursday and the Reds taking home three Premier League awards earlier on Friday.

Harry Maguire and Alejandro Garnacho claimed Player and Goal of the Month for November respectively, while Ten Hag was crowned Manager of the Month shortly before addressing the press ahead of another home test, this time against Andoni Iraola's in-form Bournemouth.

The Cherries have lost just once in their last six games in the division, winning four times in that span, including an impressive 2-0 success at Crystal Palace last time out.

United have been boosted by the return of Raphael Varane, who is fit to play again after missing our Blues victory due to a sore back. The France international trained at Carrington on Thursday, with our cameras in attendance.

Ten Hag voted Manager of the Month

 Article

A perfect November for the Reds in the Premier League has seen the boss recognised.

Ten Hag has, however, lost the services of Victor Lindelof, who is out for Saturday's game. Meanwhile, Marcus Rashford is a doubt after missing Friday's training session due to illness.

Lindelof left the field at half-time on Wednesday, and was replaced by Sergio Reguilon, with Luke Shaw shifting inside to centre-back.

Shaw has played next to Maguire during each of the last two games but Jonny Evans could slot in there after returning from injury as a late substitute in midweek.

Amad was pictured in training on Thursday as he steps us his recovery from a long-term setback, which has kept him out since July.

Christian Eriksen and Mason Mount have been on the treatment table recently, while Casemiro, Tyrell Malacia and Lisandro Martinez are not expected to feature this side of Christmas.

Ten Hag hinted that, although he will take Tuesday's crucial Champions League group-closer against Bayern Munich into account when selecting his side, his primary focus is on picking an XI to negotiate another testing league fixture.

“As a manager, with my coaches, with the rest of the staff, of course you always have considerations. We take everything into account,” Ten Hag told reporters.

“But, as you say, the next game is always the most important and especially in the Premier League when everyone is killing everyone. You need a very strong team.”

Maguire is PL Player of the Month

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Votes from United fans helped Harry deservedly pick up the Premier League's prestigious monthly accolade.

BOURNEMOUTH TEAM NEWS

Iraola has some squad issues to manage, with Lloyd Kelly, Tyler Adams, Ryan Fredericks and Max Aarons all out due to thigh problems. Aarons is the closest of the quartet to returning, but he won't be ready for Saturday's game.

“Max is training on his own but is already outside, and I think he is the next one that we will recover,” said Iraola. “Tomorrow, no chance. He hasn’t trained with the team.”

Midfielder Alex Scott has been unfortunate since joining from Bristol City in the summer and he is sidelined with a knee issue, while Hamed Traore is still out through illness.

“Junior [Traore] continues [to be] ill,” the Cherries boss added. “He has a temperature, and will not be able to be a part of the squad.”

It looks like being the same group of players, then, which defeated the Eagles in midweek, when Marcos Senesi and Kieffer Moore both opened their accounts for the season.

Part one: Press conference v Bournemouth Video

Part one: Press conference v Bournemouth

Press conference part one | Are you ready for Saturday's game? You will be after watching Ten Hag's latest update...

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Story updated 16:30 GMT.

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