Carrick names side for Villa showdown

The key fixture in the battle for a top-four place takes place at 14:00 GMT.

United lie third in the Premier League table, level on points with the Midlanders, after slipping up at Newcastle United last time out.

The visitors had a UEFA Europa League assignment at Lille on Thursday, which they won 1-0.

The good news is Mason Mount makes a welcome return to the squad, after being absent since the Manchester derby win over City on 17 January, when he was unlucky to have a late goal ruled out.

The midfielder is among the substitutes, alongside Benjamin Sesko, as the Slovenia striker makes way in the starting XI for Amad, who started on the bench for our last game, the 1-0 reverse at St James' Park.

The other change to the line-up sees Diogo Dalot replace Noussair Mazraoui at right-back.

Godwill Kukonki steps down after being in the matchday squad on Tyneside.

For the visitors, ex-Red Victor Lindelof is on the bench, while Matty Cash failed in his race to be fit. John McGinn returns to the XI as captain and Ross Barkley is also included.

Douglas Luiz and Jadon Sancho, who is eligible due to his loan from the Reds, are the players replaced.

THE TEAMS

United: Lammens; Dalot, Yoro, Maguire, Shaw; Casemiro, Mainoo; Amad, Fernandes (c), Cunha; Mbeumo. 

Substitutes: Bayindir, Heaven, Malacia, Mazraoui, T. Fletcher, Mount, Ugarte, Sesko, Zirkzee.

Aston Villa: Martinez; Bogarde, Konsa, Mings, Digne; Barkley, McGinn (c), Onana; Rogers, Buendia; Watkins.

Substitutes: Bizot, Garcia, Lindelof, Maatsen, Torres, Elliott, Luiz, Abraham, Bailey.