Man Utd: Edinson Cavani joins training before PSG clash
Manchester United return to Champions League action with a testing group stage trip to Paris Saint-Germain on Tuesday night (8pm kick-off) and will be without captain Harry Maguire as well as new signing Edinson Cavani and striker Mason Greenwood.
The Red Devils have not featured in this competition since being downed by Barcelona in April 2019, losing 4-0 on aggregate to the La Liga giants.
But in travelling to the Parc des Princes they return to the scene of their most recent unforgettable European night, as United came from 2-0 down from the first leg to win 3-1 at PSG and progress to the quarter-finals two years ago, where they would meet Barca.
That was arguably Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's finest hour as United boss with the Premier League giants having been backed for an early European exit.
As they travel to PSG for their Group H opener on Tuesday night, though, the Norwegian coach will have to do without his influential skipper Maguire.
How Man Utd could line up vs PSG without Harry Maguire, Edinson Cavani and Mason Greenwood (Image: GETTY)
How Man Utd could line up vs PSG without Harry Maguire, Edinson Cavani and Mason Greenwood (Image: GETTY)
The England international has come under criticism of late but scored United's leveller in the eventual 4-1 win at Newcastle on the weekend.
Maguire had been a fitness doubt for that clash and was not on board the flight from Manchester Airport with the rest of the United squad on Monday afternoon.
Eric Bailly has also not travelled despite being an unused substitute at Newcastle with Victor Lindelof, Timothy Fosu-Mensah and Axel Tuanzebe the three possible centre-halves if Solskajer lines up in a 4-2-3-1.
Fosu-Mensah started the opening Premier League match of the season at right-back but Tuanzebe, without a United appearance since December 18 due to injuries, could be trusted here.
The 22-year-old is highly rated at Old Trafford and would provide a pacier option than the absent Maguire alongside Lindelof.
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How Man Utd could line up vs PSG without Harry Maguire, Edinson Cavani and Mason Greenwood (Image: GETTY)
At right-back, Aaron Wan-Bissaka is a surefire starter after his stunning goal against Newcastle but on the left, Solskjaer could hand Luke Shaw a rest to give Alex Telles his debut.
The Portuguese defender, signed for around an initial £13million earlier this month, was an unused substitute at St James' Park and could displace Shaw, who has played every minute in the league so far this term.
David de Gea will keep his place over Dean Henderson between the sticks however.
In midfield, should Solskjaer persist with his favoured 4-2-3-1, then Nemanja Matic and Paul Pogba should start despite the Frenchman being dropped to the bench at Newcastle due to recent minor niggles.
Scott McTominay performed poorly on Tyneside and should make way for Pogba in the middle, with Bruno Fernandes keeping his place in the No 10 role.
While Donny van de Beek waits patiently for his opportunity, Fernandes is United's talisman and will not be left out for a match of such magnitude.
Marcus Rashford should return to the left flank with Anthony Martial - serving a three-match ban in the Premier League - returning in the No 9 role.
Cavani has not travelled and will not face his former club, either from the start or the bench, while Mason Greenwood is also unavailable due to an unspecified knock.
That leaves Odion Ighalo as the back-up to Martial up top with United able to make five substitutions in Champions League matches.
How Man Utd could line up vs PSG without Harry Maguire, Edinson Cavani and Mason Greenwood (Image: GETTY)
How Man Utd could line up vs PSG without Harry Maguire, Edinson Cavani and Mason Greenwood (Image: BUILDLINEUP.COM)
On the right, Juan Mata's display against Newcastle could see him prefer to the lightning-quick Daniel James although the Welshman was also praised post-match by Solskjaer.
James could be a game-changing option off the bench, alongside Van de Beek and Facundo Pellistri, given United are missing two big names in Cavani and Greenwood, though the latter trained on Monday.
Alternatively, United could line up with a back three that sees Shaw and Lindelof partnered by Tuanzebe or Fosu-Mensah with Telles and Wan-Bissaka wing-back options.
Matic and Pogba would presumably be joined by Fernandes in the middle with Rashford and Martial up top.
How Man Utd could line up vs PSG (4-2-3-1): De Gea; Wan-Bissaka, Lindelof, Tuanzebe, Telles; Matic, Pogba; Mata, Fernandes, Rashford; Martial.
Man Utd travelling squad for PSG clash in full
Goalkeepers: David de Gea, Dean Henderson
Defenders:Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Timothy Fosu-Mensah, Axel Tuanzebe, Victor Lindelof, Luke Shaw, Alex Telles, Brandon Williams
Midfielders:Paul Pogba, Scott McTominay, Bruno Fernandes, Fred, Nemanja Matic, Donny van de Beek, Juan Mata
Attackers:Facundo Pellistri, Daniel James, Marcus Rashford, Anthony Martial, Odion Ighalo
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