Manchester United are set to welcome West Ham United to Old Trafford on Thursday evening for a crucial Premier League showdown.
It is a rare mid-week fixture for the Red Devils, a direct consequence of missing out on European football this season.
United climbed to seventh in the table after grinding out a gritty, hard-earned win over Crystal Palace.
Securing three points against a struggling West Ham side sitting 17th is now non-negotiable.
We believe United manager Ruben Amorim must shake things up with three key changes to his starting XI.
Matheus Cunha for Mason Mount
Matheus Cunha revealed on Instagram yesterday that he is “back” in contention for the West Ham clash.
The Brazilian adds desperately needed sharpness in the final third, and his relentless drive often lifts the entire squad.
Mason Mount played the full 90 minutes against Palace, his longest league outing for United so far.
Given his previous injury issues, managing his minutes is essential.
He could play a role from the bench in the second half if needed.
Kobbie Mainoo for Casemiro
If not now, then when?
This will be a question for the Portuguese head coach who has yet to start Kobbie Mainoo in the league this campaign.
The 20-year-old has logged just 171 minutes across nine league appearances.
Casemiro also completed the full 90 minutes against Palace, emptying the tank for the team.
Expecting the veteran to reproduce that intensity again after only three days is simply unrealistic.
With West Ham faltering, this feels like the perfect opportunity to unleash a midfield partnership of Mainoo and Bruno Fernandes.
Noussair Mazraoui for Leny Yoro
Leny Yoro has endured a difficult spell, making decisive errors against both Everton and West Ham that led directly to goals.
His potential is enormous, and he deserves every bit of backing, but even top talents sometimes need a reset.
This feels like the right moment for Amorim to take him out of the firing line.
Mazraoui is set to miss several matches once AFCON begins, making his current availability even more valuable.
Amorim must make use of him before he departs for international duty.
The Moroccan has looked far more assured as a wide centre-back than as a wing-back.
His forward-stepping style could also give United an extra dimension in midfield during buildup play.
Stats from Fotmob.com
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Article written by Sanidhya Bhardwaj .
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