Currently sitting third in their Europa League group, Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho will know that his team will need to beat second-placed Feyenoord at Old Trafford on Thursday if they are to boost their chances of reaching the knockout stages of the competition.
It has been something of an inconsistent start to the season for the Red Devils under their Portuguese boss, who still seems unsure of his best starting XI.
United currently sit sixth in the Premier League table – nine points behind leaders Chelsea – while they have won two and lost two of their four matches in Europe this term, which has left them one point behind Fenerbahce and their Dutch opponents.
However, both of those triumphs came at Old Trafford, and they will be hopeful that they can maintain that 100% home record.
Football FanCast names the dominant United XI that must play to take all three points against Feyenoord…
GK: David De Gea
The Spaniard has started three of United’s four Europa League matches this season, and the Red Devils’ number one looks set to once again get the nod against the Dutch side.
With the club needing a win to boost their chances of reaching the knockout stages, Jose Mourinho must field his best players and that includes De Gea, who has proven time and time again that he is one of the best goalkeepers in the world.
RB: Matteo Darmian
The Italian full-back may have found first-team minutes hard to come by in the Premier League under Mourinho this term, but like De Gea, he has featured in three of the club’s four Europa League matches, including the corresponding tie against Feyenoord in September.
The 26-year-old made a rare start in the league against Arsenal at the weekend, but he will be hoping to play in his preferred right-back slot rather than the left-sided role he was given against the Gunners.
CB: Phil Jones
After returning from a long lay-off due to injury, that has kept him on the sidelines for the majority of 2016, Jones has started United’s last two Premier League matches in the absence of Eric Bailly and Chris Smalling.
Mourinho will have been generally impressed with the 24-year-old’s performances and he want to continue his run in the first team on Thursday night for the visit of Feyenoord.
With Bailly and Smalling still missing, the no-nonsense defender appears certain to get the nod at Old Trafford.
CB: Marcos Rojo
The injuries to Bailly and Smalling have also given Rojo an extended chance in the United starting XI under Mourinho, and the Argentina international hasn’t really looked back while forming a partnership with Phil Jones in recent weeks.
The 26-year-old has started all four of the Red Devils’ Europa League matches this term and with little competition because of the aforementioned injuries, he looks set for a fifth appearance in the competition at Old Trafford on Thursday night.
LB: Luke Shaw
Shaw began the season as Mourinho’s first-choice left-back, but the former Chelsea boss criticised the England international after he was unwilling to play through the pain barrier against Swansea earlier this month, meaning Daley Blind has been appearing in his more natural left-sided spot.
However, Shaw looks set to get another chance against Feyenoord and he will offer a significant impact going forward, which is crucial when the impetus is on United to attack at home.
CM: Ander Herrera
The Spaniard was another player who was finding first-team opportunities hard to come by at the beginning of the season with the likes of Paul Pogba and Marouane Fellaini ahead of him in Mourinho’s midfield pecking order, but that has certainly changed in recent times.
Herrera has since been preferred in the holding role in the middle of the park and he was even named as the Man of the Match in the 1-1 draw against Arsenal on Saturday, providing the assist for Juan Mata as well as breaking up a number of Gunners attacks.
CM: Paul Pogba
When you need a positive result you want your big players on the pitch, and that is certainly what United’s £89m man is.
The Frenchman has endured an inconsistent start to his second spell with the Red Devils but he has the ability to influence a match and the scoreline with his energy and athleticism, as he showed in the Europa League last month when he scored two goals in the 4-1 win against Fenerbahce at Old Trafford.
LM: Henrikh Mkhitaryan
Mkhitaryan has only made one appearance for United ever sincehis full debut in the home defeat to arch-rivals Manchester City at Old Trafford in September, but the 27-year-old is in line to make a rare start against Feyenoord.
The £26.3m summer signing from Borussia Dortmund was left out of the 18 for the Premier League match against Arsenal on Saturday, and will want to impress if he is given a chance by Mourinho on Thursday.
RM: Jesse Lingard
After an impressive start to season, Lingard’s performances have dropped off in recent week. He was a substitute in the 3-1 win against Swansea, but failed to make it on to the pitch for the draw against Arsenal at the weekend.
However, the midfielder could be given the opportunity to make an impact again when Feyenoord visit Old Trafford, and he will want to put in an attacking performance to give Mourinho a selection headache for the Premier League fixture against West Ham on Sunday.
AM: Wayne Rooney
The United captain made his return to action as a substitute against Arsenal after he was pictured on a late night drinking session during the international break with England, and he was given a rapturous reception from the Old Trafford crowd.
Rooney will want to do his talking on the pitch and he may well be given the opportunity to do that against Feyenoord, as the Red Devils look to get the positive result they need to reach the knockout stages of the Europa League.
ST: Anthony Martial
Martial enjoyed a positive debut season at United, but he has found first-team football harder to come by in the Premier League under Mourinho this term.
However, the Frenchman has featured in all four of the club’s Europa League ties, and after scoring in the previous home European fixture against Fenerbahce, the striker could be given the chance to make an impression in the starting XI as he looks to compete with Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Marcus Rashford for a regular starting spot in attack.
