Potential Manchester United XI vs Aston Villa

Manchester United finally return to Premier League action this weekend when they take on relegation threatened Aston Villa at Old Trafford as they begin a tough month of fixtures.

The Reds take on Villa on Saturday before the Manchester Derby, a trip to Stamford Bridge to face champions-elect Chelsea and a trip to Goodison Park to face Everton before the month is up. After back-to-back wins over Top 4 rivals Tottenham and Liverpool prior to the international break however, Manchester United head into this game full of confidence, looking to avenge their 1-1 draw against Villa from earlier in the season.

David De Gea will continue in goal after his heroics this season, despite only starting one of Spain’s two fixtures during the international break. Vicente Del Bosque crazily overlooked him in favour of Iker Casillas once again during the Euro qualifier against Ukraine but De Gea was in goal during the defeat to Holland on Tuesday night. He will start ahead of fellow Spaniard Victor Valdes, who recently spoke of his happiness at being at Manchester United despite still awaiting his debut since signing for the club in January.

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At right-back, Antonio Valencia has firmly established himself as the first-choice of manager Louis van Gaal this season. While Rafael is clearly not trusted by van Gaal, Paddy McNair was tipped by the boss to become Manchester United’s next right-back for the next ten years. Despite this, McNair has played just 337 minutes of football since January with Valencia making the position his own. While a right-back in the summer is almost certain to arrive, with Nathaniel Clyne heavily linked, the spot in the team is Valencia’s to lose for the remaining eight games of the season.

In central defence, Louis van Gaal has a decision to make now. Chris Smalling and Phil Jones formed a solid partnership together during the last two wins and United played their best football of the season so far in those games. While they only played because of the injury to Marcos Rojo, their performances can’t be overlooked. While I expect Rojo to return to the team, van Gaal must choose between Jones and Smalling for the second centre-back position. His decision may have been made slightly easier after Chris Smalling was taken off for England through injury but it’s a decision he shouldn’t take lightly.

Left-back poses a similar issue for Louis van Gaal. After some impressive displays by Daley Blind, he seems to have secured himself a slot on the left-hand side of defence. However, Luke Shaw is expected to be fit again. Shaw has been first choice left-back all season when fit but his niggling injury problems have caused his debut season at the club to be very stop-start. With Blind taking full advantage of his absense in recent weeks, van Gaal needs to decide whether to keep a winning formula together or bring in his first choice defender once again.

In midfield, it seems we finally have a settled selection that works. Michael Carrick has showed his importance once again in recent times since his return from injury, while Ander Herrera has made himself undroppable after finally breaking into Louis van Gaal’s plans. His drive, tenacity, creativity and steeliness in midfield is exactly what Manchester United have missed for so long and he is what keeps the team ticking.

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Despite fans not being quite so lenient with him in his first season at the club, Maroune Fellaini has become so important to Louis van Gaal’s side. His physicality, strength and new-found finishing ability have all been a huge boost to van Gaal as the Dutchman searched for balance in his team. He’s now seemingly found it and Fellaini, fresh off three goals during the international break for Belgium, is surely one of the first names on the teamsheet for the side.

Having not played an awful amount in recent months, Juan Mata has returned the side with a vengeance. Three goals in the games against Tottenham and Liverpool, including his stunning scissors kick winner at Anfield mean he has to start this game. His creativity, guile and lethal finishing give him an added edge and he has adapted to the wide right position really well. His link-up play with Herrera is a joy to behold and the foursome of Blind, Carrick, Mata and Herrera seems to be the main reason United’s possession play has gone from sterile to effective seemingly overnight.

On the other flank however, van Gaal once again has a decision to make. Ashley Young is currently enjoying the best form of his Old Trafford career and without doubt deserves his place in the team. On the other hand, Angel Di Maria. That’s it. Di Maria is a world class footballer and while he struggled in recent months and was overlooked for the Anfield game, when he came on as a substitute he did set up Juan Mata’s winner and play the pass that led to Daley Blind winning a penalty in the last minute. He’s clearly struggled and nobody is denying that but if he’s to overcome this blip in form, and that’s all it is, then he needs to play. With games against Man City, Chelsea and Everton coming up after this fixture, this Saturday is seemingly the perfect opportunity to get him back into the team to try and find some form before the tougher games. If he struggles, we know Ashley Young can do the job on current form.

Up front, Wayne Rooney is finally the No.1 choice as the lone striker. Deservedly, the captain has earned his spot at the head of the attack and has showed why with his goals in recent weeks. He continued scoring with the opener for England against Lithuania and with Robin van Persie still out injured he will start once again. Radamel Falcao is pushing to be included from the start after his three goals on international duty this week made him Colombia’s all-time top goalscorer but it’s unlikely that he gets in the team ahead of captain Wayne Rooney. Despite that, Falcao deserves minutes and if the game is won early then he should be looking to make a real impact.

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