Team news for Brighton tie
Darren Fletcher has provided an update on his squad, ahead of his second game in interim charge of Manchester United.
Our Under-18s coach oversaw the 2-2 draw with Burnley in the Premier League on Wednesday and will lead the team out at Old Trafford on Sunday, for the Emirates FA Cup third-round meeting with Brighton & Hove Albion.
Harry Maguire, Bruno Fernandes, Mason Mount and Kobbie Mainoo returned to the matchday squad in midweek, with only Maguire failing to get any minutes on the pitch at Turf Moor, as he remained an unused substitute.
Press conference part one: United v Brighton
PRESS CONFERENCE | Darren Fletcher on our AFCON players, Kobbie Mainoo and United’s cup history…
Noussair Mazraoui and Bryan Mbeumo meet each other in the Africa Cup of Nations tonight (Friday), with Morocco taking on Cameroon in the quarter-finals.
"i don't think so," Fletcher replied, when asked if one of the pair could be back in time to be available at the weekend. "I think it's too close a turnaround. So we'll have the same players available for the game, as we had against Burnley, so no new additions. Bryan and Nous will not be available for the game."
Maguire's fitness is being managed carefully, along with the others who returned at Burnley.
"Well, he has been out for a while so it would probably be looking at his load and things like that," explained our interim head coach. "That decision's not been made, but you've seen the players come back the other night. You've seen Mason [Mount], you've seen Kobbie [Mainoo], you've seen Bruno [Fernandes].
"There has to be some understanding of their first minutes, we might have to be careful with that process to build back in, so I think Harry will probably be in that situation for the weekend."
Amad is also still at AFCON, with Ivory Coast, who face Egypt on Saturday.
Centre-back Matthijs de Ligt is currently sidelined due to injury.
BRIGHTON'S TEAM NEWS
Fabian Hurzeler admits he could freshen his side up for the tie, following an impressive 1-1 draw at Manchester City in midweek.
"There will definitely be opportunities for others," he said. "But we will take this competition very seriously and see it as a big opportunity and that's why we only give players a chance who really deserve it. There will definitely be changes regarding the starting XI."
Yankuba Minteh is set to have a fitness test as he bids to return, while Joel Veltman and Charalampos Kostoulas are likely to be available.
Mats Wieffer and Solly March are out but Pascal Gross rejoined to the club when the transfer window opened, from Borussia Dortmund, and has scored seven times against the Reds in the past.