After a year without European football due to David Moyes’ disastrous reign at Manchester United, the Red Devils will make their much-awaited return to the Champions League.
Louis Van Gaal’s side will open their campaign with an away trip to Eredivisie champions PSV, as they look to start off with a win in their group B encounter.
However, the 20-time English Premier League champions, fresh off their confidence boosting 3-1 win over Liverpool, will be without star captain Wayne Rooney for Tuesday’s fixture.
The Englishman, newly crowned the Three Lions all-time record scorer, has yet to recover from the hamstring issue that kept him out of Saturday’s triumph over Brendan Rodgers’ men.
United hold hopes that the 28-year-old will be fit in time for Sunday’s clash with Southampton, though.
This leaves the Old Trafford side short of options up front. Van Gaal deployed Belgian midfielder Marouane Fellaini in the number 9 role in Rooney’s absence, a decision which failed miserable to pay dividends.
One obvious solution to Manchester United’s problem is handing summer signing Anthony Martial a start in Tuesday’s game.
The young French striker, who moved to the Theatre of Dreams for £36m on the summer transfer window deadline day, enjoyed a tremendous debut, opening his Man United goalscoring account 21 minute after his introduction.
