Manchester United and Leicester City meet in the famous English FA Cup on Friday evening. The match will be beamed around the world for fans to watch. With LCFC boss Ruud van Nistelrooy making a return to Old Trafford. It is an important fixture for other reasons too. Because of their terribly poor Premier League form, the two teams would like to give their respectively suffering fan bases something to cheer about. Cup competition can certainly provide that entertainment and release of pent up emotion.
On this sunny Wednesday afternoon in England's Midlands, we bring you any confirmed team news for either club ahead of the contest. Having that information also offers us the chance to predict the starting lineups for the King Power outfit and the northern club. Along with prophesying how the two XIs may look, we will give a result forecast too. So, has manager Ruben Amorim revealed anything on Red Devils fitness before the match? Additionally, what did van Nistelrooy say about his Foxes?
Squad updates, predicted Manchester United and Leicester City XIs
In the MUFC camp, Lisandro Martinez, Luke Shaw, Mason Mount and Jonny Evans are unfit. Martinez is the long-term absentee here, as he reportedly tore his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL). A footballer's nightmare. Therefore, alongside probable rotation, United might perhaps begin this way:
Altay Bayındır; Matthijs de Ligt, Harry Maguire, Noussair Mazraoui, Diogo Dalot; Manuel Ugarte, Kobbie Mainoo; Patrick Dorgu, Bruno Fernandes, Amad Diallo; Rasmus Hojlund.
Possible Foxes starting lineup
Meanwhile LCFC can't call on Abdul Fatawu, Wilfred Ndidi nor Ricardo Pereira. I envision RvN making wholesale alterations as well:
Jakub Stolarczyk; Luke Thomas, Conor Coady, Caleb Okoli, Woyo Coulibaly; Oliver Skipp, Harry Winks; Stephy Mavididi, Facundo Buonanotte, Kasey McAteer; Jordan Ayew.
Outcome
Foxes of Leicester do expect a Man United victory here. Difficult as it is to admit!