Jose Mourinho's selection dilemma ahead of Man Utd v Middlesbrough

Paul Pogba limps off during Manchester United
Paul Pogba limps off during Manchester United's Europa League match against Rostov and is a doubt for the Middlesbrough game this weekend

Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho has a selection headache for Sunday's Premier League clash at Middlesbrough.

United will be without Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Ander Herrera through suspension for the trip to the Riverside, while Paul Pogba limped out of Thursday's Europa League win over Rostov and Daley Blind was also taken off with a head injury, so are now doubts for this weekend.

Captain Wayne Rooney and Anthony Martial have also been on the sidelines with injuries and there are question marks over whether either of them will be fit to take on Middlesbrough.

Man Utd's missing men

Zlatan Ibrahimovic - suspended
Ander Herrera - suspended
Paul Pogba - hamstring
Daley Blind - head injury
Wayne Rooney - knee injury
Anthony Martial - knock
Bastian Schweinsteiger - muscle injury
James Wilson - ACL knee

That list of absentees means Mourinho's only eligible striker for Sunday will be Marcus Rashford, just as he was the only available frontman for Monday's FA Cup quarter-final defeat to Chelsea.

Should Pogba fail to recover from what appeared to be a hamstring problem, Mourinho will have to rethink the balance of his midfield, although Michael Carrick could be one to replace the banned Herrera.

Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho has some key selection decisions to make
Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho has some key selection decisions to make

Marouane Fellaini, who replaced Pogba against Rostov, could be another alternative in the middle of the park.

If Blind's head injury keeps him out, there could be an opening for Luke Shaw at left-back - or left wing back, if Mourinho opts to persist with the three-at-the-back system he's used for the past three games.

Either way, the strength of United's squad is going to be put to the test...

Manchester United
Manchester United's potential line-up vs Middlesbrough

Also See:

  • Mata sends Utd to last eight
  • Man Utd 1-0 Rostov - as it happened
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