Manchester United prepare to host Brighton and Hove Albion at Old Trafford in tonight’s Carabao Cup third-round fixture under Michael Carrick.
The Red Devils have endured a difficult start to the current Premier League campaign, sitting 13th in the table with just four points from four league matches.
Despite their domestic struggles, United did manage to kick off their Champions League campaign positively, winning their opening encounter against Sabah last weekend.
Brighton arrive at Old Trafford in contrasting form, currently sitting fifth in the Premier League table with seven points from their opening four matches.
The Seagulls have been particularly prolific in front of goal this season, having already netted 13 times in the English top-flight to become the highest scoring team in the division.
United are dealing with a number of injury concerns ahead of the tie, with Amad Diallo, Matthijs de Ligt, and Carlos Baleba all confirmed as sidelined.
Manuel Ugarte is also unavailable for selection after sustaining a serious knee injury while on international duty with Uruguay during the summer break.
Benjamin Sesko is expected to lead the line for United tonight, with Joshua Zirkzee set to have to settle for a place among the substitutes.
Shea Lacey could be handed a start on the right flank, while Marcus Rashford may feature on the opposite side of the attack.
Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo are expected to be named among the substitutes should Carrick require options from the bench during the match.
With Carrick rotating heavily and making eight changes to his starting lineup, tonight’s cup fixture represents a genuine opportunity for fringe players to stake their claim for regular selection.