Man Utd predicted XI vs. Brighton as Red Devils set to drop £58m man amid three changes

Manchester United have had a rocky start to proceedings in the new Premier League season on and off the field, and things won’t get much easier this weekend with Brighton & Hove Albion making the trip to Old Trafford on Saturday afternoon.

The Seagulls are expected to be able to call upon a full-strength side – something that certainly can’t be said of United, with Erik ten Hag expected to find himself several players short of a full squad this weekend. Let’s take a look at all the latest updates on injuries and other absences, and see how United might line up as they look to maintain their 100% record at home.

Goalkeeper & Defence

United have several injury worries in the back line, with left-backs Luke Shaw and Tyrell Malacia still out for the foreseeable future and neither likely to return to training for several weeks. That means that Tottenham Hotspur loanee Sergio Reguilón is almost certain to make his Red Devils debut at full-back.

Things aren’t much better at centre-back, either, with the injury that Raphaël Varane picked up against Nottingham Forest worse than first feared – he is unlikely to play this weekend, but a timetable for his recovery has not yet been made public. His defensive partner, Lisandro Martínez, should be ready to go despite a minor injury suffered in the 3-1 defeat to Arsenal. He was called up to the Argentina squad but didn’t play a minute, although that appears to have been more tactical than anything else and he seemed to suggest he was ready to play in an Instagram post. Third-choice goalkeeper Tom Heaton has also sustained a bad calf injury, meaning that new signing Altay Bayindir will be on bench duties.

Midfield

Ten Hag has two injury concerns in the heart of the park, with no word yet on whether Mason Mount will be fit to play after missing the last two league games with a hamstring injury. Mount is back in full training, so should be ready to play at least some part, but whether he’s able to start or not is unclear.

New signing Sofyan Amrabat is also a possible absentee, with the Moroccan player missing his nation’s friendly win over Burkina Faso on Tuesday thanks to a back injury. His withdrawal from the national squad was described by coach Walid Regragui as “precautionary”, however, and he has been seen training at Carrington. With both Mount and Amrabat at least somewhat doubtful, Christian Eriksen may well start alongside Casemiro and Bruno Fernandes again.

Forwards

Antony will not play for the foreseeable future due to an investigation in Brazil over alleged assault against a former partner, and the winger has not yet returned to England having announced that he will remain in his home country as proceedings go on. Jadon Sancho, meanwhile, will train away from the first team until his public spat with Ten Hag is resolved - he won’t be involved this weekend, at any rate.

There are no other absentees for United up front, and Rasmus Højlund seems likely to earn his first start following an energetic substitute appearance against Arsenal. The Danish striker came off the bench in both of his country’s qualifying games against San Marino and Finland as he gradually works his way back to full fitness. Alejandro Garnacho could be given a chance to impress on the right flank, with Anthony Martial available to play either position if called upon.

Full predicted line-up vs. Brighton

Onana; Reguilón, Martínez, Lindelöf, Wan-Bissaka; Casemiro, Eriksen, Fernandes; Rashford, Højlund, Garnacho.