Manchester United interim manager Ralf Rangnick has hinted his side could undergo a wholesale of changes for their Champions League clash against BSC Young Boys on Wednesday.
The German left his side unchanged from their 3-2 win over Arsenal last week as he took charge of his first game to see the Red Devils beat Crystal Palace.
But with passage to the knockout stages already in the bag for United, Young Boys’ visit to Old Trafford is a mere formality for the Group F winners.
Ralf Rangnick has hinted at a number of changes for Man United ahead of Young Boys game
Anthony Martial and Jesse Lingard joined an overloaded United treatment table with Luke Shaw, Raphael Varane, Paul Pogba and Edinson Cavani also sidelined.
Despite his limited options, the interim boss could look to capitalise on the stress free fixture, resting the usual starting stars and giving United’s prodigies a run out.
The 63-year-old favours a 4-2-2-2 formation and after finding success in that shape against Palace, he could line up in the same way this week.
Here, Sportsmail takes a look at how the interim boss could line up to face Young Boys in their final group stage game.
DEAN HENDERSON
Henderson has become a forgotten man at Old Trafford this season since David De Gea’s United renaissance.
The 24-year-old is yet to make a Premier League or Champions League appearance for United in the current campaign, only featuring in their 1-0 Carabao Cup defeat at home to West Ham back in September.
The youngster looked likely to usurp De Gea as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s No 1 heading into the new season but a bout of Covid forced him to lay low, handing the Spaniard the golden opportunity to break back into the side.
But with Champions League last 16 already in their grasp, Rangnick has confirmed he will be switching Henderson in between the sticks this week.
Dean Henderson has become a forgotten man this season with David De Gea getting the nod
AARON WAN-BISSAKA
Rangnick opted to field Diogo Dalot in the right-back position against Palace with Wan-Bissaka consigned to the bench.
Dalot’s nod ahead of Wan-Bissaka came as a surprise after the Portuguese full-back had been left out in the cold by Solskjaer.
But Rangnick has been clear about the style of football he wants to foster at United and the German requires his full-backs to be adept with the ball – something Wan-Bissaka has not been to strong on lately.
But the interim manager could give Wan-Bissaka the chance to prove himself against Young Boys with a view to resting Dalot for their trip to Carrow Road at the weekend.
Aaron Wan-Bissaka (L) was consigned to the bench for the game against Crystal Palace
HARRY MAGUIRE
The England international came under increasing pressure towards the end of Solskjaer’s tenure but Rangnick will be looking to maintain some stability within the squad to steer them out of troubled waters.
Though the game against Young Boys is a dead rubber for United, the new boss will not want to hit a bump in the road so soon into his reign.
As captain, Maguire’s leadership from the back should bring calm and confidence to a relatively changed side that will allow them to maintain their newfound winning momentum.
ERIC BAILLY
Victor Lindelof received the nod ahead of the Ivory Coast centre back on Sunday but while Rangnick is likely to keep Maguire in the side his defensive partner could be swapped out.
The German boss could look to give Bailly some game time in a relatively straight forward fixture.
Bailly has only made one Champions League appearance this season and will be desperate to prove himself in the new managerial regime.
ALEX TELLES
Alex Telles is set to make up the defensive shield at left back as one of the few unchanged players from the Palace win.
Luke Shaw was ruled out of Sunday’s game following a head injury sustained against Watford and is expected to remain sidelined this week.
The England international enjoyed an excellent campaign last season but struggled for form as Solskjaer crashed and burned out of the manager’s job.
His recent absence has allowed Telles to impress and his recent standout performance suggests there could finally be genuine competition for those places, even once Shaw returns.
Alex Telles impressed as Manchester United began the Ralf Rangnick era with three points
NEMANJA MATIC
Matic did not make it off the bench on Sunday but could start in the heart of the midfield alongside outcast Donny Van de Beek midweek.
The 33-year-old earned his place back in the United starting line-up for their league matches against Watford and Chelsea and, despite not pulling up tree, could be an important player Rangnick turns to.
The Serbian midfielder is unlikely to be a key figure under the German boss between now and the end of the season, when his contract expires, but his experience could be an asset when called upon to step in for games such as these.
DONNY VAN DE BEEK
Donny Van de Beek’s misfortunes at Old Trafford have been well-documented. Frozen out by Solskjaer since his £35million move in 2020, the Dutchman has seen just 114 minutes of Champions League action this term.
But after Solskjaer’s departure, Van de Beek’s time at United looks to have finally arrived as Rangnick confirmed he will start in the middle of the park against Young Boys.
The 24-year-old was a regular but unused substitute under the Norwegian boss and, although he started on the bench against Palace, at least he did eventually make it on the pitch.
Donny Van de Beek (R) has been confirmed to start in the Champions League fixture
MASON GREENWOOD
The youngster is poised to take Cristiano Ronaldo’s place up front to give the Portugal star a rest after seemingly keeping United afloat on clutch goals alone.
The 20-year-old came off the bench to provide the assist for Fred’s 77th-minute winner on Sunday and is likely to make the starting line up after the impressive display.
The winger was one of the bright sparks of Solskjaer’s tenure, rising to prominence under the Norwegian over the past 18 months and started this season strongly for United, scoring in each of his opening three league matches of the season.
Rangnick is tasked with raising the prodigy to world class standard and the boss will not waste an opportunity to unleash his exceptional finishing skills on Wednesday.
Mason Greenwood (R) provided the assist for United’s winner after replacing Jadon Sancho (L)
JADON SANCHO
The England international has not had the dream start to life at Old Trafford that was expected off the back of a successful Euros campaign.
His summer move was overshadowed by the return of prodigal son Cristiano Ronaldo but his poor start was compounded by being left on the fringes by Solskjaer.
The 21-year-old has made just 11 starts in the Premier and Champions League and his lack of minutes caused him to be dropped from the England squad by Gareth Southgate.
But his slow start finally seems to be heating up. Sancho has returned to firing form, scoring against Villareal and Chelsea last month, and shows no signs of stopping.
After losing his United and England places under Solskjaer, Sancho will not be looking to bow out under Rangnick and there is no doubt he will be the first to be banign on the door to the manager’s office, demanding to be played.
Jadon sancho (R) has not had the dream start to life at Old Trafford since his summer move
MARCUS RASHFORD
The England international is set to be another prominent figure under Rangnick this season.
Rashford has endured a slow start to the campaign but his tally of three goals in 11 games is not too shabby considering he missed a sizeable chunk of the season due to a shoulder injury.
The 24-year-old has started all of United’s game since the international break and is expected to feature once again on Wednesday.
Marcus Rashford (L) was replaced 25 minutes from the end by academy prodigy Anthony Elanga (R)
ANTHONY ELANGA
Academy product Elanga could round off the United’s front line on Wednesday after featuring as an eyecatching inclusion in the dugout against Palace.
Elanga, who has seven goals in eight game for Sweden U21s, was summoned from the bench to replace Rashford on Sunday but could start alongside the Englishman as they welcome Young Boys to Old Trafford.
Rangnick has already proven he is willing to give chances Solskjaer never would and after a confident 25 minutes from the youngster at the weekend, he could be willing to gamble on the 19-year-old on the European stage.
