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Attention will finally return to the pitch when Manchester United travel to Leeds, after days of debate regarding Lisandro Martinez's controversial interview in midweek. After a 2-0 defeat at Atletico Madrid, the Argentine publicly took aim at the INEOS hierarchy, especially director of football Jason Wilcox, for a perceived lack of results in the transfer market. Michael Carrick now has a decision to make on whether to keep Martinez in the team for the trip to Elland Road, where United are aiming to win their first domestic match since August. Here, our Express Sport writers name the starting lineups we would pick for what is expected to be another fierce contest...
Michael Carrick confirmed that Lisandro Martinez would be in the squad to face Leeds and a lack of proven alternatives means he is forced into starting the Argentine. Even if he wanted to issue a sporting punishment for midweek’s outburst.
But Martinez should be deployed at left-back at Elland Road. He needs to be kept away from Dominic Calvert-Lewin, who would physically dominate him.
Fix another hole by moving him out wide, and in Yorkshire, United will need as many players as possible who are comfortable on the ball to deal with one of the best pressing teams in the Premier League.
That means bringing Mason Mount in for Andrey Santos, with Kobbie Mainoo presumably absent, and the Englishman can alternate with Bruno Fernandes in a 4-3-3 shape.
The front three largely picks itself as a result, with Amad a capable option from the bench and Matheus Cunha restored after being left out against Atletico. The £62.5million man is still one of United’s most deadly forwards and will be desperate to prove he deserves ‘undroppable’ status.
Lammens; Dalot, Maguire, Heaven, Martinez; Baleba, Fernandes; Mbeumo, Mount, Rashford; Cunha.
Amos Murphy
Let’s get the elephant out of the room straight away: Lisandro Martinez cannot play. He’s lucky to even get in the matchday squad. His comments have been an unwanted distraction for a club already on the verge of crisis.
Diogo Dalot was dreadful in Madrid, so he’s out of the team. Kobbie Mainoo remains a doubt, so it’s likely going to be Andrey Santos in the middle of the park.
While a front free of Marcus Rashford, Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha look to provide the goals.
Lammens; Shaw, Heaven, Maguire, Dalot; Santos, Baleba; Rashford, Fernandes, Mbeumo; Cunha.
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Charlie Malam
Given they missed the trip to Madrid, Kobbie Mainoo, Luke Shaw and Benjamin Sesko will all be unable to start at Elland Road. So those three are immediately disregarded from the options.
The performance was actually better in midweek despite defeat and much of the XI should stay the same here. That means Marcus Rashford on the left and Bryan Mbeumo central. But I’d start Bruno Fernandes in the No.10 role with Amad Diallo on the right wing for added counter-attacking threat.
That means Andrey Santos and Matheus Cunha are both benched. Youri Tielemans drops back into the two-man midfield alongside Carlos Baleba. Two changes should be made to the backline too - Leny Yoro replacing Ayden Heaven at right-back with Harry Maguire coming in at centre-half.
Lammens; Yoro, Maguire, Martinez, Dalot; Tielemans, Baleba; Amad, Fernandes, Rashford; Mbeumo.
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