It appears that both midfielder Paul Pogba and goal keeper David de Gea will miss Manchester United’s UEFA Europa League clash at Partizan Belgrade tomorrow night.
Both players did not train today, and the midfielder has been out of commission, due to ankle and foot injuries, since he withdrew from international duty with France earlier this month. He’s missed United’s last three games. As for De Gea, he was expected to miss the draw against Liverpool, but was rushed back into action.
He’ll sit out this one and the usual cup goalie, Sergio Romero, will play instead.
Moving on, left back Luke Shaw and forward Anthony Martial both got hurt in the loss to Crystal Palace back before the first international break. Martial, as well as right back Aaron Wan-Bissaka, returned against Liverpool with Jesse Lingard (who missed Sunday’s match) expected back for this one.
Shaw is moving closer to a return, as is midfielder Nemanja Matic, but this match will come too soon for both. Meanwhile United will also be without the services of defenders Diogo Dalot, Timothy Fosu-Mensah, Eric Bailly and also Axel Tuanzebe for this one.
Yesterday saw an English side (Tottenham Hotspur) wallop a Belgrade team (Red Star) in a European competition. I guess we’ll see if United can follow suit or not.
Manchester United at Partizan Belgrade (UEFA Europa League Group stage) FYIs
United starting XI prediction: go to this link
Kickoff: 5:55 BST, Oct 24, Partizan Stadium
TV: BT Sport 2
Group L Standings: Partizan first with 4 points, United second with 4 points
Prediction: Partizan 1, United 1
Although United are facing a much smaller club, it’s hard to pick them to win this one as they have not won a match of any sort away from Old Trafford since March.
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.
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