“April was the cruelest month,” if we may make a slight adaptation to T.S. Eliot’s timeless phrase in his classic poem “The Wasteland,” and apply it to the current Manchester United season.
The campaign did a 180 degree turn when Ole Gunnar Solskjaer went from caretaker boss to permanent manager on March 28th. It’s seems ironic, counter-intuitive, non-sensical, but the facts and numbers speak quite loudly on this. Why that is I have no idea, but it is what it is. Now United’s top four chances are pretty much all but dashed.
However, forward Jesse Lingard still believes the Red Devils will head into Championship Sunday with the opportunity for a top four finish still in play.
We know this- United need to win both of their last two games and have Chelsea drop points in both of their final matches. Up next is a very easy task for United, a trip to the John Smith’s Stadium, where they will face the league’s bottom side, already relegated Huddersfield Town. Let’s take a look at the fitness situation for both sides, starting with the hosts.
Australian midfielder Aaron Mooy (knock, hip complaint) faces a late fitness test while goalkeeper Ben Hamer, who missed the last two games due to an unspecified knock, is a doubt. Finally, striker and long term injury absentee Laurent Depoitre is also unlikely to feature.
Switching over to Manchester United, Phil Jones who hasn’t played since the Everton match, could be back in contention, but Eric Bailly is shut down for what little remains of this season.
Finally, forward Marcus Rashford, who was subbed off early due to a shoulder issue versus Chelsea, is fine. He’s be in full training.
Huddersfield Town vs Manchester United FYIs
Kickoff- Sunday May 5, John Smith’s Stadium 2pm
United Starting XI Prediction: go to this link
Form guide: Huddersfield Town LLLLL Manchester United DLLWL
Google Result Probability: Huddersfield win 10%, Draw 17%, Manchester United win 71%
Prediction: Manchester United 3, Huddersfield 0
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net, which is partnered with News Now. Banks, the author of “No, I Can’t Get You Free Tickets: Lessons Learned From a Life in the Sports Media Industry,” regularly appears on WGN CLTV and co-hosts the “Let’s Get Weird, Sports” podcast on SB Nation.
Banks, a former writer for NBC Chicago.com and Chicago Tribune.com, also contributes to Chicago Now. Follow him on Twitter and Instagram. The content of his cat’s Instagram account is unquestionably superior to his.