(4-3-3) Van Nistelrooy Formation to take on Porto as Caretaker – as INEOS set to officially announce Ten Hag sack later Today

(4-3-3) Van Nistelrooy Formation to take on Porto as Caretaker – as INEOS prepares to formally announce Ten Hag’s sack later today.

Manchester United might be missing up to six players for Thursday’s Europa League match against Porto at the Estadio do Dragao.

The Red Devils were humiliated 3-0 at home by Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League on Sunday, and Kobbie Mainoo was forced out in the first half with a muscle injury, ruling him out of the trip to Porto.

Mason Mount was also carried off with a cut to his head, and while he has since written on Instagram to stress that he is “all good,” the midfielder is scheduled to be evaluated ahead of start, as is Harry Maguire, who missed the defeat to Spurs due to a knock.

Tyrell Malacia (knee) and Victor Lindelof (toe) have returned to first-team training after being out for extended periods of time; the latter was an unused replacement on Sunday, and it is unclear if the former will be ready to return to the matchday squad on Thursday. Leny Yoro (foot) and Luke Shaw (calf) stay in the treatment room.

Erik ten Hag, who is once again under severe pressure, may contemplate changing his starting lineup on Thursday, but a back four of Noussair Mazraoui, Matthijs de Ligt, Lisandro Martinez, and Diogo Dalot may remain unchanged.

In the absence of Mainoo, ex-Porto players Casemiro and Christian Eriksen might partner Manuel Ugarte in centre-midfield, while Bruno Fernandes, who was sent off in the defeat to Spurs, is available to remain in the number 10 position for this Europa League match.

After squandering a few good chances in the final third on Sunday, Joshua Zirkzee could be replaced up front by Rasmus Hojlund if Ten Hag believes he is ready to start after only recently recovering from injury, while Amad Diallo and Antony will continue to compete with Alejandro Garnacho and Marcus Rashford for starts on the flanks.

Manchester United’s likely starting lineup: Onana; Mazraoui, De Ligt, Martinez, Dalot; Eriksen, Ugarte; Diallo, Fernandes, Rashford; Hojlund.