Missing Players and team news:
There are several injury doubts in the Manchester United camp ahead of Milan’s visit, with Marcus Rashford having limped off early during Sunday’s Manchester derby with an ankle injury and fellow forward Edinson Cavani missing the top-of-the-table clash after aggravating an injury in training last week. A former Europa League finalist with Ajax, Donny van de Beek has not been fit to feature in any of United’s last five matches, while Paul Pogba, Juan Mata and Phil Jones are all expected to miss out too. First-choice goalkeeper David De Gea is reportedly still in Spain following the birth of his child, which would leave the door open for Dean Henderson to keep his place as the last line of defence. The promising English stopper played in both legs against Real Sociedad and the recent Premier League clashes with Crystal Palace and City, keeping clean sheets on each occasion. Visiting manager Stefano Pioli, like his opposite number, has tended to rotate resources in the Europa League and his hand will be forced into doing so again in Manchester, as Milan are expected to be without the injured Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Ismael Bennacer again. There has been some speculation of a miraculous return to action for their star striker, but his chances of a glorious return seem slim. First-choices Hakan Calhanoglu, Ante Rebic and Theo Hernandez are in doubt too and are unlikely to be risked with the home leg coming up next week. Recently, Pioli has offered rests to both of the previously watertight central-defensive pairing Simon Kjaer and Alessandro Romagnoli, with Chelsea loanee Fikayo Tomori an option to replace either man if required. Another loan signing, Diogo Dalot, could start upon returning to his parent club, covering Hernandez at left-back. A regular fixture in continental competition this term, Rafael Leao is set to lead the line in the probable absence of Ibrahimovic and his experienced understudy Mario Mandzukic.
