Man Utd Team News: Injuries, suspensions and line-up vs Swansea City
After sharing the spoils with neighbours Manchester City on Thursday, Manchester United host Swansea City at Old Trafford on Sunday knowing that victory will take them into the top four for at least 24 hours.
For a team who have not been in such a position since the middle of September, anything is a bonus right now. And especially so considering the chaotic nature of United's run-in.
With either seven or eight games still to play depending on their Europa League fortunes, United have a far more hectic final few weeks of the season than all their rivals for the Champions League positions.
Their cause has hardly been helped by a catalogue of recent injury troubles and that ill luck is set to continue this weekend after further issues were collected at the Etihad Stadium, including Marouane Fellaini's sending-off which will see him suspended for the next three games.
MAN UTD INJURIES
Jose Mourinho has cursed his side's misfortune of late, with Timo Fosu-Mensah dislocating a shoulder in the dying moments of the derby to add to their increasing injury list.
Marcos Rojo and Zlatan Ibrahimovic both suffered season-ending knee ligament injuries against Anderlecht recently, while Phil Jones and Chris Smalling both remain out despite Mourinho attempting to cajole them back into action early due to his side's extensive problems in fielding a strong centre-back partnership.
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Juan Mata remains an absentee, although Mourinho claimed in his pre-match press conference that the Spaniard is expected to be the first of the long-term injury victims to return to the side. That suggests the attacker could be back in action before the season is out.
Paul Pogba will not be back fit in time to return against Swansea, although Mourinho insists he is hopeful of the Frenchman returning from his hamstring problem for Thursday's semi-final first-leg clash with Celta Vigo.
MAN UTD SUSPENSIONS
United will be missing Marouane Fellaini following his late red card against Manchester City for a head butt on striker Sergio Aguero. Besides the clash with Swansea, the Belgian will also be absent for the north London visits to Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur which follow over the next two weekends. Neither side have any players close to facing a ban on accumulation of yellow cards since a player would need to have accrued 15 bookings this season to be suspended.
MAN UTD POTENTIAL STARTING LINE-UP
It is a case of whoever is fit will play in some positions for United, with stocks stretched in midfield and central defence to the point where the team almost picks itself. Jose Mourinho admitted on Thursday that Wayne Rooney could be asked to fill in in midfield if necessary, while Axel Tuanzebe is now his only alternative at the heart of defence besides current incumbents Eric Bailly and Daley Blind.
Marcus Rashford should return to a more natural number nine position after Thursday's clash with City in which he started on the right with Henrikh Mkhitaryan playing in a false nine role, while Jesse Lingard and Luke Shaw may come back in as Mourinho looks to rest players ahead of their crunch dates with Celta Vigo.
SWANSEA CITY TEAM NEWS
Paul Clement's side are battling for their lives down at the bottom as they continue what has become a head-to-head battle with Hull City for Premier League survival.
The 2-0 win over Stoke City last time out was a welcome relief after having gone seven games without a win, but Hull's win on the same day ensured that the Swans remain in the bottom three.
Having fired Francesco Guidolin and Bob Bradley earlier this season, Clement's arrival had seemed to steady the ship but they will need an upturn in form to retain their Premier League status next term. Their best run of form under the former Real Madrid number two came between mid-January and early-March when they recorded four wins in six attempts, inspired by a memorable 3-2 triumph at Anfield.
With 68 goals conceded so far, Swansea have the unwanted crown as the league's worst defence. That inability to keep the opposition out has undermined the achievements of Fernando Llorente and Gylfi Sigurdsson, who have netted 20 goals between them in the league.
BEST OPTA MATCH FACTS
After failing to win any of their first 10 visits to Old Trafford in all competitions (D2 L8), the Swans have won two of their last four (L2).
Wayne Rooney has had a hand in six goals in his last six Premier League appearances against Swansea (two goals, four assists).
Swansea’s Gylfi Sigurdsson has scored two and assisted three more in his last five games against Man Utd in the Premier League. Indeed, the Icelandic midfielder has found the net in each of his last two appearances at Old Trafford.
The Swans have picked up just seven points from their last 48 available on the road in the Premier League (W2 D1 L13), and have failed to score in each of their last three away from home.
No ground has seen more draws in the Premier League this season than Old Trafford (9). The only season that Manchester United drew more home league games was 1980-81 (11).
Manchester United will break a new club record for the longest unbeaten run within a single top-flight season, should they avoid defeat in this match (25 games).
TV COVERAGE & KICK-OFF TIME
The game at Old Trafford kicks off at 12:00 UK time, with live television coverage on BT Sport 1 in the UK.