Southampton Manager Mauricio Pellegrino is considering handing Virgil van Dijk his first start of the season Saturday versus Manchester United.
The Saints boss told reporters: “We’ll decide [on Friday] but every single week, Virgil is important because he is getting better.”
The want-away defender has been ruled out since January due to a severe ankle injury but did play the final three minutes against Crystal Palace last week.
Van Dijk made major headlines all summer long as he handed in his transfer request amidst strong and very public interest from Liverpool, but obviously it didn’t happen, and now here’s the chance for him to finally be fully integrated back into the side.
Other than Van Dijk, Southampton have no new injury worries.
Flipping over to the other side, United midfielder Paul Pogba is out for this clash, joining defender Marcos Rojo and striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic (both knee) on the sidelines. Pogba did post another dance party video of himself on Instagram Wednesday night before United beat Burton Albion in the League Cup.
Given how Pogba was moving in that clip, it appears that he will be back in action sooner rather than later. Left back Luke Shaw played his first minutes of the season Wednesday night, as he found himself in the first team, but drew a lot of criticism from club legend Phil Neville.
He is match fit now, but still very unlikely to see action against his former team this weekend.
Odds: (via BetFair) United- 3/4, Draw- 11/4, Southampton 4/1
Kickoff: 15:00 BST
Mourinho press conference video: go to this link.
Man United Starting XI Prediction: go to this link.
Prediction: Manchester United 2, Southampton 0
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net and TheBank.News, which is partnered with News Now and Minute Media. Banks, a former writer for the Washington Times, NBC Chicago.com and Chicago Tribune.com, currently contributes regularly to WGN CLTV and Chicago Now.
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