Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal has a defensive injury crisis to contend with for the Premier League visit of Crystal Palace on Saturday afternoon.
The Dutchman was already missing Phil Jones and Jonny Evans before Rafael pulled up in training prior to their Manchester derby defeat to City last weekend.
Considering that they also lost Marcos Rojo to a dislocated shoulder and Chris Smalling to ill-discipline during the match, it was remarkable that it was United who were doing the late pressing at Eastlands.
A valiant display counted for nothing, though, as United's run without victory was extended to three games, and the costly Van Gaal revolution has only succeeded in guiding the club to its worst ever Premier League start.
The Red Devils are 10th in the table, having only won three games so far this season, but the inconsistencies of the teams around them mean that they are only four points adrift of a Champions League spot.
Palace have different ambitions, and Neil Warnock would probably take their current position of 17th at the end of the season, having seen the honeymoon period of his second coming ended by a four-match winless streak.
The Eagles boss was this week charged by the FA for comments made in relation to officials in the wake of their 2-1 loss to Chelsea, but had no complaints about the red card shown to Mile Jedinak in the 3-1 defeat to Sunderland on Monday evening.
The Australian, who has captained Palace in every game since their promotion back to the top flight in 2013, will be banned for the trip to Old Trafford and so club-record signing James McArthur will come into midfield.
However, Damien Delaney is back from suspension and is likely to return in central defence alongside Scott Dann. United loanee Wilfried Zaha is ineligible and therefore Jason Puncheon should be recalled on the right.
Van Gaal may use fit-again Michael Carrick, who was named in the England squad this week despite having only played 50 minutes of competitive football this campaign, as a makeshift centre-back.
Three Lions boss Roy Hodgson has urged Carrick to make England's holding midfielder spot his own, but the 33-year-old is needed in a defensive capacity for his club, such is their shortage in that area.
Either Paddy McNair or Tyler Blackett will be installed as his partner, while winger Antonio Valencia may again have to deputise at right-back, leaving £30m teenager Luke Shaw as the most senior recognised defender.
Further forward, Van Gaal is blessed with riches and Juan Mata may again find himself the victim of United's depth in attacking areas. Radamel Falcao's fitness is an increasing concern and he will once again miss out.
The 19-time English champions are unbeaten in six games against Palace and beat them 2-0 twice last term.
Recent form
Man Utd: LDDWWL
Palace: LDLLWD
Possible starting lineups
Man Utd: De Gea; Valencia, Carrick, McNair, Shaw; Fellaini, Blind; Januzaj, Rooney, Di Maria; Van Persie
Palace: Speroni; Ward, Dann, Delaney, Kelly; Puncheon, McArthur, Ledley, Bolasie; Chamakh, Campbell
Sports Mole says: 3-1
No Data Analysis info
