Man Utd predicted line-up vs. Wigan: five key changes made with £60m midfielder among injury doubts

Manchester United will look to put a difficult December in the rear view mirror when they face League One side Wigan Athletic in the third round of the FA Cup on Monday evening – but Erik ten Hag may have to navigate the tie against the 2013 winners without several first-team players.

The visitors have had a poor run of form in the last month or so themselves, winning just one of their last six matches – which has seen them fall to 17th in the third tier, although they would sit seven places higher if they hadn’t been deducted eight points for breaches of the EFL’s financial regulations. There may be a gulf between the two teams on the league ladder, but performances earlier in the season suggest that the Latics may not be pushovers.

There are no fewer than seven United players who are doubts for the game at Old Trafford, from players carrying recent knocks to longer-term absentees who are expected to return to full fitness over the next week or two. Ten Hag said in his press conference that he will have "more or less" the same squad available as he did for the 3-1 defeat to Nottingham Forest, but has otherwise kept his cards close to his chest.

We’ve brought all the latest team news together below and given our best guess at a starting eleven, although between the need for rest and rotation and all the close calls on availability, we’ll admit that our chances of getting it right are pretty slim…

Goalkeeper & Defence

André Onana is expected to be available for both the game against Wigan and the league match against Tottenham Hotspur on 14 January despite being included in Cameroon’s squad for the Africa Cup of Nations – and despite the fact that the game against Spurs will come just 24 hours before the goalkeeper is expected to play in the Ivory Coast against Guinea. The Cameroonian FA was prepared to be flexible as they had persuaded Onana to come out of international retirement for the tournament.

That means he is likely to line up against Wigan, but there is rather more doubt over the identities of the players protecting him – Harry Maguire (groin) and Luke Shaw (muscle) could be fit after missing recent games, while Lisandro Martínez (foot) and Tyrell Malacia (knee) are both on the comeback trail and stand at least some chance of being involved on Monday evening, although the likelihood seem to be lower in their cases. Victor Lindelöf (groin) is unlikely to play as he recovers from his own lay-off, while Sergio Reguilón has returned to Tottenham Hotspur after his loan spell at United was terminated.

Midfield

There are two question marks in United’s midfield, with Casemiro (hamstring) and Mason Mount (calf) close to comebacks ahead of what would be their first appearances since October and November respectively. Casemiro has been seen in training, at least, but both players are more likely to be ready to face Spurs in a week’s time.

One player who will definitely miss out is Sofyan Amrabat, who will play for Morocco in AFCON – a commitment that will see him miss the next two games at the very least. Should his country make it all the way to the final, he would be unavailable for at least two further matches.

Jadon Sancho is the other United player who certainly won’t be in action against Wigan. The winger’s exile from the first-team continues and he is currently negotiating a loan move that would see him return to former club Borussia Dortmund, a deal which could be concluded before Monday’s game.

Forwards

There have been doubts over the availability of Rasmus Højlund, who missed the recent defeat to Nottingham Forest through illness, and winger Antony, who was substituted in the second half amidst suggestions of a hamstring injury – and there is good news and bad news for United fans.

The good news is that Danish striker Højlund is expected to fit to play against Wigan - while the bad news is that Antony should be fit too. Perhaps a run-out against a lower league side will give the Brazilian the chance to put his dire form behind him and pick up a first goal contribution of the season. Anthony Martial could also miss out, as he too has been suffering from an unspecified virus.

Manchester United predicted line-up vs. Wigan Athletic

Onana; Dalot, Evans, Kambwala, Wan-Bissaka; Mainoo, McTominay, Eriksen; Garnacho, Pellistri, Højlund.