Convalescing defenders Luke Shaw and Marcos Rojo were a part of the Manchester United team that traveled to Lisbon, Portugal for the club’s UEFA Champions League group stage clash at Benfica.
This naturally invited speculation that either or both could feature, but alas that is not to be. Neither Luke Shaw nor Marcos Rojo were named to the team sheet for the game Wednesday night. Here’s the starting XI and available subs as tweeted out by the official Man Utd account just moments ago:
Here's the #MUFC team to face Benfica in tonight's #UCL game… pic.twitter.com/Z8Mf48T8bp
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) October 18, 2017
Antonio Valencia captains tonight, leading a back line with Victor Lindelof, Chris Smalling, Matteo Darmian and Daley Blind. The midfield and attack is pretty much as expected, so no surprises there. United Manager Jose Mourinho did tell the club website that Rojo was taken along on the trip so that he could train along side the rest of the team.
He also said that Rojo will return in two weeks time.
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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