Man Utd predicted line-up vs. Brighton: Three changes made as key defenders return to action

Manchester United face a trip to the south coast on the final day of the Premier League season when they take on Brighton & Hove Albion with a place in Europe on the line – but they may be missing up to seven players for Sunday’s game.

United will need at least a draw – and for other results to go their way – in order to ensure that they reach the Europa Conference League at a minimum. They will earn a place in the qualification rounds of the continent’s third-tier tournament if they finish seventh and lose the FA Cup final to Manchester City, while they will reach the Europa League if they beat their local rivals at Wembley next weekend regardless of their league position.

Should Erik ten Hag’s team fail to better Newcastle United’s result, they will finish eighth, which would be their lowest league position in the Premier League era. The good news is that several injured players have returned to help them avoid that, with Marcus Rashford, Lisandro Martínez and Bruno Fernandes all back on the pitch for the midweek win over Newcastle, while at least two more players could feature after recent fitness problems.

We’ve collected all of the latest team news and injury updates below for you, and ventured our best guess at Ten Hag’s likely starting XI. If you’re looking for some information ahead of the Fantasy Premier League deadline, you can also check out our high-flying FPL manager’s latest advice column by clicking here.

Goalkeeper & Defence

The back line has been hit by a string of injuries in recent months, but Martínez being able to come off the bench in midweek offered some relief, while both Raphaël Varane and Victor Lindelöf have returned to first-team training in the past week and could be in line for a return.

Unfortunately, they will still be without Harry Maguire, who is a doubt for the FA Cup final, and will probably also have to make do without Luke Shaw, who has suffered a setback in his recovery from a thigh injury and now has a “very small, reduced chance” of playing this weekend, according to Ten Hag. Tyrell Malacia, who has missed the entire season with a serious knee injury, is not expected to be involved before the end of the campaign.

Midfield

The only midfielder who might miss out against Brighton is Mason Mount, whose injury-plagued first season at Old Trafford took another unfortunate turn after he suffered a “very unlucky” injury in training ahead of the Newcastle game.

The club have not confirmed the nature of the problem but Ten Hag has described it as “a minor issue” and told reporters that “I think he can be available for Brighton.” With Fernandes back to full fitness after missing games through injury for the first time in his career, it is perhaps unlikely that Mount will be called upon to start anyway.

Forwards

Having missed four matches following an injury he sustained in the nail-biting FA Cup semi-final win over Coventry City, Marcus Rashford returned against Newcastle but was only able to make a brief cameo in the closing minutes – it is not clear whether he will be fit enough to start against Brighton, and Amad Diallo could be given another chance to impress in his place.

The only forward who is expected to miss out entirely is Anthony Martial. The Frenchman, who is expected to leave the club when his contract expires this summer, hasn’t featured since undergoing surgery on a groin injury in January but has been back in training over the past two weeks.

Onana; Dalot, Martínez, Varane, Wan-Bissaka; Mainoo, McTominay, Fernandes; Diallo, Højlund, Garnacho.