Manchester United return to Europa League action this evening with an away game at Omonia.
Ahead of the encounter, manager Erik ten Hag is set to tinker with his starting XI. A few of the regulars could be rested with a view to Sunday’s Premier League game at Everton.
Still, there will be several players with a point to prove to the Dutch tactician. We look at three of them that need to make a significant impact in today’s outing at the GSP Stadium.
Casemiro
When the Brazilian first arrived from Real Madrid, it was widely expected that he would replace Scott McTominay in the holding midfield role in his maiden appearance.
However, that has not been the case. McTominay’s fine form over the past few weeks has kept him in the XI regularly while Casemiro has been unimpressive in his cameos.
The five-time Champions League winner has been prone to being displaced while also losing out on several duels. Hence, the pressure is now right on him to perform.
McTominay had a poor outing in the Manchester derby recently and Casemiro now has the chance to make his full Premier League debut if he stands out against Omonia.
The 30-year-old needs to show more composure on the ball this evening. A solid performance with no mishaps could be sufficient to displace McTominay for Sunday’s game.
Luke Shaw
Shaw was always bound to face competition after Tyrell Malacia’s arrival, but not many expected the Dutchman to become a regular starter during the early weeks of the season.
The former’s inconsistent start to the campaign helped Malacia in establishing himself in the XI, but Shaw will be aiming to respond after overcoming a nagging foot problem recently.
While Malacia has tended to excel with his defensive duties, he does not offer much in the final third. This is where Shaw has impressed over recent times especially with his crossing.
He also has the knack of getting into goalscoring positions in the box and recently scored for England against Germany. Shaw is definitely a player with a big point to prove today.
Cristiano Ronaldo
The Portuguese sensation has played in his shadows this term. After a 24-goal campaign, he has yet to find his feet this season. This has been partly due to competition.
Unlike the previous season, Ronaldo has not been an undisputed starter up front. He now faces strong competition from Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial to lead the line.
Rashford has been good for Ten Hag with five goal involvements while Martial has also chipped in with three despite playing under 90 minutes of football due to two injuries.
Ronaldo should be handed the chance to lead the attack today and has the opportunity to redeem himself. The five-time Ballon d’Or winner has yet to score from open goal.
If he can turn up with a brilliant hat-trick or multiple goal involvements, he could be in contention to start against Everton. Ten Hag tends to reward players with strong displays.
Stats from Transfermarkt.com
