(4-2-1-3) Man United starting XI against Brentford revealed as Erik Ten Hag makes heavy changes amid injury setbacks- £35m star gets a start in the attack and Bruno Fernandez is surprisingly on bench

Manchester United will be looking to end a five-match winless run in all competitions when they welcome Brentford to Old Trafford for a Premier League contest on Saturday afternoon.

The two teams meet for the first time since March when they played out a 1-1 draw at the Gtech Community Stadium, where Mason Mount’s 96th-minute strike was cancelled out in dramatic fashion by a 99th-minute Kristoffer Ajer equaliser

Not for the first time, Erik ten Hag has survived the axe and lives to fight another day as Man United manager, despite overseeing the club’s worst-ever start to a Premier League season, with only eight points accumulated and two wins posted in their opening seven matches.

The Red Devils have opted to remain silent on Ten Hag’s future following a seven-hour executive meeting that was held in London just over a week ago by members of the club’s leadership group, including Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Joel Glazer.

Nevertheless, the spotlight remains fixed on Ten Hag at present and the Dutchman is tasked with turning the club’s fortunes around quickly, as they currently sit 14th in the Premier League table, closer to the relegation zone than the top four, while they are already 10 points adrift of league leaders Liverpool.

Since thrashing Barnsley 7-0 in the EFL Cup in mid-September, Man United have failed to win any of their last five matches in all competitions, drawing four including a goalless stalemate at Aston Villa prior to the international break.

Man United have had little to celebrate at Old Trafford so far this term, but there is reason to be optimistic ahead of Saturday’s fixture, as they have won each of their last five home league games against Brentford by an aggregate score of 13-2 – not since 1937 have they lost at home to the Bees.

Brentford buzzing out of the blocks has become the new norm in the Premier League, with Thomas Frank’s side having scored the opening goal inside the first 80 seconds in each of their last four matches.

The Bees failed to beat Manchester City, Tottenham Hotspur or West Ham United when netting the opener, but they came out on top by a thrilling 5-3 scoreline at home against basement club Wolverhampton Wanderers before the international break.

Frank’s side have picked up all 10 of their Premier League points this season on home soil and currently sit 11th in the table, two points ahead of Saturday’s opponents Man United and three points behind the top four.

Brentford have suffered defeat in each of their first three top-flight away matches this term, albeit against Liverpool, Man City and Spurs, and they head to Old Trafford this weekend seeking to avoid losing their opening four league games on the road for the first time since 1961-62 when they lost their first nine as a third-tier club.

The Bees’ record against Man United does not bode well ahead of Saturday’s clash, as they have only won one of their last 10 encounters with the Red Devils in all competitions, losing seven and conceding 24 goals, but Frank’s fearless side will nevertheless fancy their chances against a Ten Hag team struggling for form

Man United duo Kobbie Mainoo and Harry Maguire have been ruled out for “a few weeks” with muscle problems, while Leny Yoro (foot), Luke Shaw (calf) and Tyrell Malacia (knee) all remain out as they continue to work their way back from injury.

Manuel Ugarte undertook a recovery session on Thursday after limping off with an unspecified issue on international duty with Uruguay on Tuesday, and he will be assessed ahead of kickoff along with Mason Mount (knock).

However, Man United have been boosted by the return to training of Noussair Mazraoui – who recently underwent an operation to address heart palpitations – Alejandro Garnacho and Amad Diallo, who could all be involved this weekend.

There have been reports suggesting that Ten Hag could use Jonny Evans at left-back, with Diogo Dalot moving over to the right side of a back four, while Matthijs de Ligt and Lisandro Martinez could both be recalled to start at centre-back.

As for Brentford, they are still having to cope without Rico Henry, Josh Dasilva, Igor Thiago (all knee), Aaron Hickey (thigh) and Gustavo Nunes (back) due to injury, while Saturday’s game will also come too soon for Mathias Jensen (calf).

However, Frank has revealed that a late call will be made on the availability of Yoane Wissa, who has returned to training after missing the last four games with an ankle injury, while Mikkel Damsgaard (knock) and Christian Norgaard (muscle) will also be assessed after they were all unable to represent Denmark during this month’s international break.

Frank may consider reverting to a three-at-the-back system against Man United, with Sepp van den Berg, Ethan Pinnock and Nathan Collins all starting in central defence, while Kristoffer Ajer and Keane Lewis-Potter operates as wing-backs.

Bryan Mbeumo is Brentford’s top scorer so far this season with six goals in seven Premier League games, including three in his last three, and he is set to continue in attack alongside either Wissa – if fit – Kevin Schade or Fabio Carvalho.

Manchester United possible starting lineup:
Onana; Dalot, De Ligt, Martinez, Evans; Eriksen, Casemiro; Garnacho, Fernandes, Rashford; Zirkzee

“I have played with TWO greatest midfielders in football history but there’s ONE particular Man United’s midfielder who’s better than all combined…I’m planning to leave Man United because of only him, he’s too good and looking at how he play I know I don’t have future here anymore”: Bruno Fernandes reveals why he’s planning to leave Man United, names ONE player as the reason

Scott McTominay was forced to leave Man United due to the club’s financial situation, according to the club’s former chief scout.
Mick Brown, who worked at United for over a decade during the club’s most successful period and remains well-connected at the club, exclusively told Football Insider that the club would have breached profit and sustainability rules if they hadn’t cashed in.

Brown explained that United found themselves in a position they had never been in before, having to sell players before they could spend money.

It was said that the sale of McTominay allowed United to land a deal for Manuel Ugarte which would otherwise have been impossible financially.

The 27-year-old midfielder joined Napoli on the final day of the summer transfer window for a fee of £25.7million.

Meanwhile, Brown also revealed that Erik ten Hag had attempted to shift the midfielder in 2023 as he was offered to Premier League clubs including West Ham.

This comes shortly after United fans were left stunned by a highlights package of his performances since moving to the Serie A.

Man United avoid PSR punishment with Scott McTominay sale

McTominay came through the youth setup at Man United and went on to make 255 appearances for the club, winning the FA Cup and League Cup in that time.

Brown, who remains very well-connected at Old Trafford and within the game as a whole, questioned United’s reasons behind selling the midfielder given the lack of quality currently at Ten Hag’s disposal.

“They wanted him gone for a long time,” he told Football Insider.

“When I was at West Ham in 2023, they offered us McTominay, Wan-Bissaka and Harry Maguire.

“But what they had to do, in the end, was sell players in order to bring other players in.

“They didn’t have the finances just to spend big on buying a host of new players, especially with PSR hanging over them.

“They knew they couldn’t sign Ugarte because they’d have breached the regulations.

“That’s why they let him go in the end – to free up space for Ugarte to come in.

“This is a situation Man United have never been in before, they’ve always had money to spend.

“But either way it seems Ten Hag didn’t want him any more, and I don’t understand that.

“He always waves the flag, he’ll have a go no matter the situation or the opposition and he usually makes a good job of it.

“I don’t know why United never seemed able to see that because compared to some of the midfielders they’ve got, they’re nowhere near as good.”

“All my players are scared of facing him but it’s unfortunate Erik ten Hag doesn’t know how to manage such fantastic player”: Brentford coach says Man United has a player who’s currently the best player in Premier League and all his players are scared of facing him

Manchester United have confirmed defender Harry Maguire will be out of action for a few weeks after picking up an injury against Aston Villa.

The Red Devils have suffered a major blow and Maguire, along with Kobbie Mainoo, becomes the latest player to spend time on the sidelines with fitness issues.

The England international suffered the injury in the match against Aston Villa and he went on to miss the international matches for the Three Lions when they faced Greece and Finland.

The club provided the update about Maguire and other players on Thursday, with Mainoo also expected to be out for some time with a muscle injury.

Man United had positive updates on Noussair Mazraoui, Alejandro Garnacho and Amad Diallo but they confirmed that Mason Mount and Luke Shaw are still recovering from their injuries.

The statement from the club’s official website confirmed the news about Mainoo and Maguire, who were both expected to be a part of the starting line up against Brentford if they were fit.

The official statement from the club said:

“Noussair Mazraoui, Alejandro Garnacho and Amad are all back in training after missing games for their countries during the international break.

“Manuel Ugarte undertook a recovery session having just returned from international duty with Uruguay, and taking part in World Cup qualifiers.

“Tyrell Malacia continued his progress towards recovery from long-term injury by participating in the first part of the group session.

“Kobbie Mainoo and Harry Maguire were absent after picking up muscle injuries against Villa, and they are both expected to be out for a few weeks.

“Mason Mount continues his recovery from a knock sustained against Tottenham Hotspur, and Luke Shaw from a muscle injury, with both making steady progress in their rehabilitations.”

This is not good news for the club but more so for the manager who is struggling at Old Trafford.

Ten Hag faces an uncertain future at the club and according to a report, he has been given two games to save his job at the Premier League giants.