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Chelsea vs Manchester United team news: Jesse Lingard and Anthony Martial out of FA Cup fifth round tie

The pair could be unavailable for up to three weeks

Mark Critchley
Northern Football Correspondent
Monday 18 February 2019 09:46 GMT
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Ole Gunnar Solskjaer admits PSG were 'a level up' from Manchester United

Manchester United will be without Jesse Lingard and Anthony Martial for Monday’s FA Cup fifth round tie at Chelsea.

The pair could be unavailable for up to three weeks after being forced off with hamstring and groin injuries respectively during the Champions League defeat to Paris Saint-Germain.

Lingard and Martial’s absences are likely to pave the way for two of Alexis Sanchez, Juan Mata and Romelu Lukaku to start at Stamford Bridge. Youngsters Tahith Chong and Angel Gomes could make the matchday squad.

“It’s a chance for anyone who plays. If it’s Alexis or Romelu who starts, or if it’s Chongy or Angel,” Ole Gunnar Solskjaer said on Friday.

“Anthony and Jesse have done very well for us, they’re vital in the attacking part with their attributes and their pace. But then again with Rom and Alexis, they’ve got different skill sets so they will be able to show what they can do.”

Antonio Valencia and Matteo Darmian are unlikely to feature as they continue their recovery from minor injuries, while Marcos Rojo is a long-term absentee.

Chelsea will give a late fitness check to Ruben Loftus-Cheek, who missed Thursday’s Europa League win at Malmo with a back injury. Maurizio Sarri otherwise has no new injury concerns.

Sarri’s assistant, Gianfranco Zola, said on Friday that Callum Hudson-Odoi is always “on the edge of the team”. The youngster hoped to leave Chelsea for Bayern Munich in January in search of more first-team opportunities.

“As soon as there is an opportunity, he plays,” Zola said. “Sometimes from the beginning. Sometimes he comes on.

“The manager is giving him plenty of reasons to feel involved and wanted. I want to stress this out: there aren’t many 18-year-olds in Europe playing as many games as he is. There might be one or two.

“He’s playing. And, on top of that, he’s a player we appreciate and we believe is growing up. He has a bright future in this club, the whole coaching group like him.”

Predicted XIs

Chelsea: Caballero; Azpilicueta, Rudiger, Luiz, Alonso; Kanté, Jorginho, Barkley; Pedro, Higuain, Hazard.

Manchester United: Romero; Young, Jones, Smalling, Shaw; Herrera, Matic, Pogba; Mata, Lukaku, Rashford.

Referee: K Friend (Leicestershire)

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