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Erik ten Hag must drop three Man Utd stars vs Wigan after shambolic Nottingham Forest loss
Erik ten Hag needs to make three changes to ensure Manchester United don't suffer a shock FA Cup exit at Wigan.
Shaun Maloney believes his team can cause an FA Cup shock against Man Utd
Manchester United travel to Wigan Athletic in the FA Cup third round vying to lighten the mood by navigating past their north-west neighbours at the DW Stadium. It feels as if Erik ten Hag can't afford to suffer a shock defeat against the League One strugglers amid mounting scrutiny on his job.
United have lost exactly half of their games - 14 of 28 - in Ten Hag's second season at the helm, leaving the FA Cup as their sole remaining prospect of silverware.
The Red Devils were dumped out of the Carabao Cup fourth round with a 3-0 defeat at home to Newcastle United, the side they defeated to end their six-year trophy drought last February.
They also crashed out of Europe in humiliating fashion, finishing rock bottom of their Champions League group with one win from six games.
Ten Hag has grown a reputation for his lack of rotation since arriving at Old Trafford, although relentless injuries have tested that approach this term.
But the Dutchman must make three changes to the team that lost dismally at Nottingham Forest in the final game of 2023 against Wigan.
Andre Onana
Andre Onana may have delayed leaving England for the Africa Cup of Nations to feature against Wigan and Tottenham Hotspur this week.
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He started both Carabao Cup games this term. However, Altay Bayindir deserves a chance to impress ahead of Onana's departure on international duty.
It won't do the 25-year-old goalkeeper's confidence any good if he is forced to watch a cup game against lower-league opposition from the bench. And that could damage United when he does have to step in.
Jonny Evans
Jonny Evans hasn't put much of a foot wrong since his surprise United return last summer. In fact, it's not a stretch to say he's been one of Ten Hag's best performers.
But he is already 35, and United have already needed him much more often than expected. Ten Hag should hand Willy Kambwala his second senior start alongside Raphael Varane.
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There has been no update to suggest that Victor Lindelof has returned to contention, so the 19-year-old should receive more valuable experience after featuring against West Ham United.
Antony
It may actually be wise to play Antony against Wigan in the hope that he could register his first goal or assist of the season against a team 54 places lower in the English football pyramid.
But the 23-year-old winger has had his chance. And given how electric the trio of Alejandro Garnacho, Marcus Rashford and Rasmus Hojlund were in the Boxing Day win against Aston Villa, it's time to invest in that attack.
It wouldn't be harsh to suggest Antony should be third in Ten Hag's right-wing pecking order if Amad Diallo shines off the bench as he did against Forest last time out.