Jose Mourinho names his side to face Watford

United are looking to make it two away wins on the bounce and Mourinho will be hoping his side can continue in the same vein that saw the Reds comfortably defeat Burnley 13 days ago.

Marouane Fellaini is fit enough to keep his place, whilst Matteo Darmian, Scott McTominay and Juan Mata are all recalled to the United squad and take their place on the bench. Marcus Rashford begins the first of his three-game ban following the red card he picked up at Burnley.

Pre-match Jose Mourinho has shed some insight on why Luke Shaw misses out today in an interview with BT Sport.

"He could from a medical point of view play and pass all the items of the protocol, but he didn't work with us all week [due to the concussion], yesterday was the first time," he said.

"Ashley Young did all the tactical work we did during the week. and we have Champions League next Wednesday and Wolves on the Saturday and then Derby in the cup so we need to start with a little bit of rotation and we felt that Luke not playing today was the best thing for the team, and then he can come back without any kind of limitation next Wednesday."

On Fellaini recovering from a small back injury, Mourinho said: "He's in a good moment. He had a little bit of a problem but we think he's in the condition to play and this kind of opponent in this kind of stadium, they normally play very direct and are physical so we feel that Fred has just arrived yesterday from the Brazil national team and Marouane is more experienced with these kinds of matches, with Fred on the bench."

The boss is expecting a tough encounter this afternoon, adding: "They are difficult. The fact that they have maximum points gives them an extra confidence and motivation. Three of their four matches were at home which they won and of course the relation with the stadium and the fans must be a fantastic relation and it makes it more difficult.

"We had a good example at Burnley, the way we have to play if we want to win these difficult matches. So let's see if we can."

Watford are unchanged for the fifth straight game.

 

United: De Gea, Valencia (c), Smalling, Lindelof, Young, Fellaini, Matic, Pogba, Lingard, Alexis, Lukaku.

Substitutes: Grant, Darmian, Bailly, Fred, Mata, McTominay, Martial.  

Watford: Foster; Janmaat, Cathcart, Kabasele, Holebas; Doucoure, Capoue, Hughes, Pereyra; Gray, Deeney (c). 

Substitutes: Gomes, Femenía, Masina, Mariappa, Chalobah, Sema, Success.