In midweek, Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer gave an update on his star forward/England national hero Marcus Rashford. It appears that Rashy, still recovering from shoulder surgery, won’t be back in contention until after the next international break.
So that means he won’t feature this season until mid-October at the earliest. While that seems like awhile it’s not too far off from the original surgical recovery timeline, one that had him slated to return in October. Let’s take a look at the rest of the team news as Manchester United host Aston Villa on Saturday.
Manchester United vs Aston Villa FYIs
Premier League Watch Party/Book Signing: Come join The Sports Bank Founder, Paul M. Banks, at Fado in Chicago for the North London Derby on Sunday. He’ll be signing copies of his new book Transatlantic Passage: How the Premier League Redefined Soccer in America.
Kickoff: Sat Sept 25, 12:30, Old Trafford
MUFC Starting XI Prediction: go here
Weekly Premier League Preview Podcast: go here
Odds: United win -264, Draw +380, Aston Villa +650
Summer splash signing Jadon Sancho is off to a slow start, so hopefully he comes correct in this one. Another high profile summer transfer window addition, Raphael Varane, was rested in the mid-week EFL Cup loss to West Ham, so he should be ready to go all 90 in this one.
Team News for Both Sides
Young winger Amad Diallo (thigh) will also miss this one, as a long term injury absentee. Meanwhile Edinson Cavani is moving closer to a return, but may not be available in time for this one. Jesse Lingard was the hero of the bench last weekend, we’ll see if he comes on in a cameo again to provide heroics this week.
Turning to Aston Villa, Keinan Davis (knee), John McGinn (concussion) and Leon Bailey (thigh) are all doubts for this clash while Trezeguey (knee), Matt Targett (abductor), and Morgan Sanson (muscular) are all sidelined here.
Prediction: United 2, Aston Villa 1
A rested Ronaldo in midweek is definitely good for a goal here, or two, and that should be enough to squeak out a win here at the Theatre of Dreams.
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank, partnered with News Now. Banks, the author of “Transatlantic Passage: How the English Premier League Redefined Soccer in America” and “No, I Can’t Get You Free Tickets: Lessons Learned From a Life in the Sports Media Industry,” has regularly appeared in WGN, Sports Illustrated and the Chicago Tribune.