Predicted XI: Maguire to start against Wolves and add goal threat? Ugarte & Casemiro in midfield? Hojlund to lead the line with Obi on the bench?

Manchester United return to Premier League action on Sunday as they welcome Wolverhampton Wanderers to the Theatre of Dreams. United have been boosted this season with the 5-4 victory over Olympique Lyonnais, 7-6 on aggregate, which has seen them reach the semi finals of the UEFA Europa League this season.

Ruben Amorim’s side will need to do better in the Premier League with the club closer to relegation than the top four, which goes to show how many problems the club has entering a very important summer transfer window for the club – which must be done correctly addressing all of the problem areas on the pitch, of which there are many.

United’s season could have been over with a defeat to Lyon but three goals in about seven minutes changed that with United riding their luck after leading 2-0 at half time and collapsing in the last twenty minutes of the match before scoring the much needed goals and earning their place in semi finals of the Europa League.

Predicted Manchester United Starting XI – 3-4-2-1

Onana;

Mazraoui, Maguire, Yoro;

Dalot, Ugarte, Casemiro, Dorgu;

Fernandes, Garnacho;

Hojlund

Goalkeeper: Onana

Andre Onana seems to be the best option in goal for the remainder of the season but he will need to work hard to be trusted as the number one goalkeeper at the club heading into next season. In almost two seasons at the Old Trafford club the Cameroonian has conceded a massive 143 goals, conceding four on Thursday evening alone.

Onana will need to work hard in rectifying the mistake he has made in goal this season and working to become the player United signed from Inter Milan in the summer of 2023. United will, no doubt, be in the market for at least one goalkeeper in the summer with many names mentioned in the media already. It could be interesting.

Altay Bayindir did not do too well in the Premier League against Newcastle United last weekend, conceding four goals in a 4-1 defeat which left United on the edge of the cliff prior to their Europa League second leg clash against Lyon, which they won 5-4 – 7-6 on aggregate. United need to be more clinical in goal next season.

Defenders: Mazraoui, Maguire, Yoro

The defence at the Old Trafford club has taken a major hit this season with four central defenders still out of action through injury at this stage of the season. United will need to make do with what they have, at least for the foreseeable future. That will mean that there will be little rotation unless youth players are brought into the fold.

Noussair Mazraoui should be starting on the right side of the back three with Harry Maguire playing in the centre of the defence and Leny Yoro playing on the left side of the back three. It is the best trio that United can utilise at this stage of the season and for the foreseeable future. These players will need to work very hard.

On the bench, the likes of Victor Lindelof, Luke Shaw and Harry Amass could be available with the former two the ones most likely to be involved in this area of the defence with Amass more likely to play in the midfield with him being a left-back and not experienced playing in a back three.

Midfield: Dalot, Ugarte, Casemiro, Dorgu

The United midfield should have many options ahead of Sunday’s clash with Wolves. Diogo Dalot and Patrick Dorgu should be starting in the wide areas of the midfield four, which adds width for the squad and extra players in defence when required. United should be able to thrive in these areas of the midfield, as they did on Thursday.

In the centre of the midfield Manuel Ugarte and Casemiro should partner once again as they did so well against Lyon on Thursday. The mixture of the experience and youth is good for United with Casemiro still a threat on goal, along with Ugarte who scored the opening goal against Lyon on Thursday. There are other options though.

On the bench, the likes of Mason Mount, Christian Eriksen and Kobbie Mainoo could all find involvement with Mainoo still on cloud nine following his goal against Lyon, which gave United a lifeline to go on and score the winning in added time at the end of extra time. United need a repeat of this kind of form.

Attack: Fernandes, Hojlund, Garnacho

United’s attacking line needs some major attention in the summer. Rasmus Hojlund has been in poor form this season and with Joshua Zirkzee out of action for seemingly the remainder of the season, United will need to find some answers in the Premier League which will need to come from the academy of the club.

Hojlund will start against Wolves, which gives him a chance to find some form and the back of the net, which is what he needs to do but it has not been easy for him. The chances of him exiting the club in the summer seem very high now. Bruno Fernandes and Alejandro Garnacho should start to offer support for the striker.

Off the bench, the likes of Mount could add something in these positions with the midfielder able to play in a number of positions. Christian Eriksen can also play a more advanced role too, which gives some options. Chido Obi should be getting some chances in the Premier League too, which will be good for the young player.

Substitutes: Bayindir; Lindelof, Shaw, Amass; Mount, Eriksen, Mainoo, Fletcher; Obi

United will be able to name nine players on the bench in the Premier League against Wolves on Sunday. Altay Bayindir will most likely be the goalkeeper on the bench with Onana starting in goal. In defence, Victor Lindelof, Luke Shaw and Harry Amass could all be on the bench and find involvement at some point.

In the midfield, United have some good options with Mason Mount, Christian Eriksen, Kobbie Mainoo and Jack Fletcher which gives a great mixture of youth and experience – which is what United need at this stage of the season with some younger players seeking to make the step up from the academy into the first team.

In attack, United have few options on the bench. Mount and Eriksen can both play attacking positions, which is great. Chido Obi should get some minutes from the bench with Hojlund struggling in front of goal. It would be great for Obi to get some minutes on the pitch, which could allow him to provide United with goals.

Written by Paul