(4-2-3-1) Hojlund, Varane and Garnacho to start – Man United starting XI vs Chelsea: Confirmed team news and injury latest

(4-2-3-1) Hojlund, Varane and Garnacho to start – Man United starting XI vs Chelsea: Confirmed team news and injury latest

Erik ten Hag has played down the likelihood of Mason Mount earning a recall to the Manchester United starting line-up ahead of Thursday’s match with Chelsea.

Mount returns to his boyhood club for the first time since a £55million summer switch to Old Trafford and is seeking a first start since October, just days after scoring what looked to be an undeserved late winner against Brentford, before Kristoffer Ajer gave the Bees a last-gasp equaliser.

“He’s a fantastic football player but it’s important first that he is getting and keeping fit because he has had three injuries,” Ten Hag told reporters on Wednesday.

“Like with [Lisandro Martinez], another injury, you want to avoid it and we have to do this carefully. The first objective is to keep him fit. Then he can benefit and contribute to the team like he did on Saturday when he had a big impact.”

United confirmed on Tuesday that Victor Lindelof was now facing at least four weeks out with a hamstring injury suffered against Brentford.

Argentine defender Martinez will also miss out against Chelsea after he suffered yet another setback with a calf strain in training, having made his first appearance for nearly two months off the bench on Saturday night.

Raphael Varane is back in training after being replaced by Harry Maguire at half-time against Brentford as a precaution. Academy graduate Kambwala is on standby with Jonny Evans also rejoining training on Wednesday.

“In the frontline and midfield we are okay,” added Ten Hag. “And we have options there but in the backline we have a lack of options.

“But the good thing is back in training this afternoon are Raphael Varane and Jonny Evans. Yesterday, Harry Maguire was back in training.”

Champions League qualification is looking increasingly unlikely for United. The Red Devils are stuck in sixth place following their 1-1 draw at Brentford, eight points behind fifth-placed Tottenham.

United on Thursday night will aim for their first victory at Stamford Bridge in over four years.

After travelling to West London, United host Liverpool in a repeat of last month’s thrilling 4-3 victory – which booked Ten Hag’s side a place in the FA Cup semi-finals at Wembley.

Ten Hag is still without the likes of Luke Shaw, Tyrell Malacia and Anthony Martial, plus back-up goalkeeper Altay Bayindir.

Predicted Man Utd XI: Onana; Wan-Bissaka, Varane, Maguire, Dalot; McTominay, Mainoo; Garnacho, Fernandes, Rashford; Hojlund

Injured: Shaw, Martial, Malacia, Martinez, Lindelof

Doubts: Varane, Evans, Bayindir

Time and date: 8:15pm BST on Thursday April 4, 2024

Venue: Stamford Bridge