Ruud van Nistelrooy will be in the dugout when Manchester United host Chelsea in Premier League this afternoon.
While Ruben Amorim will officially take over in November, the United legend will have three more games as interim manager following Wednesday’s thrilling Carabao Cup win over Leicester City.
The Dutchman will remain without Kobbie Mainoo and Harry Maguire for the visit of Chelsea with the pair still recovering from respective thigh and knee injuries.
Christian Eriksen, enjoying an impressive campaign after coming close to leaving in the summer, missed the 5-2 win over the Foxes through injury and with United not disclosing the exact nature of the knock, he will be considered a doubt this afternoon. Mason Mount is also not expected to return from his latest knock.
Luke Shaw remains unavailable with Ten Hag confirming in his final correspondence as United manager the left-back has suffered yet another injury setback with his recovery ‘not going as we expected’.
Shaw has not played for his club since February and with Tyrell Malacia also still working his way back towards full fitness after his extended lay-off, van Nistelrooy is likely to remain without a recognised left-back option.
United are still to confirm the extent of Antony’s injury after he was stretchered off with what was reported to be an ankle sprain against Fenerbahce last week.
Leny Yoro meanwhile continues to step up his return in training with hope he can make return to action at some point in November.
Chelsea head into the weekend with a relatively clean bill of health.
Jadon Sancho will be ineligible to face his parent club – but having been hooked at the break against Liverpool and left on the bench against Newcastle United last time out in the league, his place in the starting XI suddenly looks very uncertain.
Pedro Neto joined that otherwise settled attacking unit last weekend and is in line to keep his place in registering an assist in that 2-1 win.
As has become the norm, Enzo Maresca made wholesale changes midweek as the Blues crashed out of the Carabao Cup against Newcastle as part of their double-header against the Magpies, making 11 changes to the side that beat the same opposition at the weekend.
Cole Palmer was an unused substitute along with Levi Colwill with plenty of first-team regulars given the night off.
There was some concern for Wesley Fofana last weekend after he went down with discomfort in his knee – something Maresca believes will be an issue for the rest of his career after missing a year of action with a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament.
But the former Leicester City star is expected to return to the side this weekend with Reece James hoping for his third successive start in the league after putting his latest injury problems behind him.
Predicted Man Utd XI to face Chelsea
Onana, Mazraoui, de Ligt, Martinez, Dalot, Ugarte, Casemiro, Rashford, Fernandes, Garnacho, Hojlund
Predicted Chelsea XI to fact Man Utd
Sanchez, Gusto, Fofana, Colwill, James, Caicedo, Lavia, Madueke, Palmer, Neto, Jackson
Where to watch Man Utd vs Chelsea? Kick-off time and TV channel
Man Utd vs Chelsea kicks off at 4:30pm on Sunday, 3 November.
Live coverage is available on Sky Sports Premier League and Sky Sports Main Event, with a live stream available on the Sky Go app and NOW TV.
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