Manchester United duo in from the wilderness for West Ham carabao cup tie

Manchester United make a good league start

A last-minute penalty save from David De Gea ensured that Manchester United took all three points from their most recent Premier League tie with West Ham.

Mark Noble stepped up after Luke Shaw handballed inside the area, but De Gea pulled off a magnificent diving stop to keep the score at 2-1, a lead which former Hammer Jesse Lingard had given the Red Devils.

The result means that Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side sit atop the Premier League table, level with fellow early pace-setters Chelsea and Liverpool, having accumulated 13 points from their opening five games.

Just three days on, Manchester United and West ham meet again, this time in the Carabao Cup third round. With the Red Devils yet to win a trophy under current management, and Manchester City prolific in this tournament recently, a cup run for Cristiano Ronaldo and co. would do them the world of good.

Duo set to return

Such is the depth of Manchester United’s squad that even a heavily rotated XI, such as the one they are likely to field on Wednesday night, could still prove very strong.

One player due to return for a rare appearance is Alex Telles, signed on deadline day of 2020 from FC Porto. The left-back went on to struggle, however, injury and the form of Luke Shaw reducing him to just seven Premier League appearances last campaign.

However, he is set to return, with the full-back revealing to Manchester United fans that:

“I feel good”

“Things happen in football. I wasn’t very happy about that [the injury] but I took advantage of the situation by working harder.”

“I feel better than before, I feel better prepared and stronger, physically and mentally. I’m much better and I’m thrilled to be back.”

Meanwhile, Anthony Martial is another man to come in from the wilderness this week, with Solskjaer “set to name him in his starting line-up” as per The Mirror. The Frenchman has made just the solitary start this season, and was hooked after an hour in that encounter.

With Cristiano Ronaldo and Edinson Cavani both ahead of Martial, and Mason Greenwood a rising star in the Red Devil ranks, Martial will need to make a strong impression on Wednesday to keep his United career alive.