Manchester United face Nottingham Forest in the Premier League this evening and there were a few things worth noting from their final training session before the game
09:31, 01 Apr 2025Updated 09:32, 01 Apr 2025
Man Utd training
Man Utd could be set for a new look backline
After a lengthy 16-day hiatus, Manchester United are finally back in action.
The Red Devils could have been on the pitch sooner if Victor Lindelof and Joshua Zirkzee had found their mark during the FA Cup penalty shootout against Fulham. Instead, United's April and May fixtures are confined to Premier League and Europa League clashes.
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Tuesday's marks United's return to the City Ground for the first time in 13 months, having played there four times within that period following Nottingham Forest's triumphant return to top-tier football in 2022.
Forest are currently third in the league and have stormed into the FA Cup semi-finals in what has been an extraordinary season. And Amorim could be set to make some big calls on Tuesday evening.
United managed their recent defensive injury woes commendably and now have the opportunity to deploy their strongest trident and wingers without the recuperating Lisandro Martinez, reports the Manchester Evening News.
Ruben Amorim
Ruben Amorim's side are back in action on Tuesday evening(Image: Manchester United via Getty Imag)
Harry Maguire, Matthijs de Ligt and Leny Yoro makeup the likely starting back three, Patrick Dorgu has comfortably filled the left flank, and the ever-reliable Diogo Dalot has featured in 28 of the 29 league games this season.
The only game he sat out against Southampton was due to suspension. Noussair Mazraoui was brought in as competition for Dalot, yet they've shared the field 36 times amidst United's persistent left-back issues. This dynamic might be about to change.
Mazraoui has been one of the few shining lights for United, showcasing his versatility across five different positions in two distinct formations. However, he might finally settle into the squad-player role that seemed likely when he transferred from Bayern Munich.
Mazraoui's shirt
Mazraoui could miss out on the squad
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Ruben Amorim benched Mazraoui during the 3-2 victory over Ipswich Town last month, opting for Yoro, De Ligt, Maguire, Dalot and Dorgu in the starting lineup.
This marked only the third time Mazraoui had warmed the bench in league play, with his previous stint as a substitute coming in the reverse fixture against Forest in December. At that time, Amorim's chosen XI was widely regarded as United's top team.
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The silver lining for the Moroccan ace is that United's backline is plagued by injury-prone players, which should guarantee Mazraoui ample pitch time in the upcoming matches.
Notably absent from Friday's training session were Mazraoui, Manuel Ugarte, and Victor Lindelof, having all played for their countries last Tuesday. While Ugarte battled it out in Bolivia's high-altitude conditions, it's now been a week.