Manchester United midfielder Mason Mount will not be coming back from a calf problem in Wednesday's Premier League clash with former club Chelsea at Old Trafford.
The England international was back on the training pitches last week but was not passed fit for Saturday's trip to Newcastle United, where the Red Devils were deservedly bested 1-0.
Erik ten Hag has conceded that all of Mount, Tyrell Malacia (knee), Lisandro Martinez (foot), Casemiro (thigh), Christian Eriksen (knee), Amad Diallo (knee) and Jonny Evans (thigh) remain out, while Jadon Sancho is still being kept away from the main group.
With Raphael Varane still out of favour and Victor Lindelof being kept on the bench against Newcastle, Ten Hag deployed Luke Shaw in a makeshift central role, but it is not impossible to envisage Lindelof being reintroduced alongside Harry Maguire in front of Andre Onana.
Shaw could therefore be deployed in his familiar left-back position, forcing Diogo Dalot and Aaron Wan-Bissaka to battle for the right-back position; a battle which the former may triumph in.
Providing a much-needed bright spark in the Red Devils midfield, 18-year-old Kobbie Mainoo is in contention for another start alongside Scott McTominay, although Sofyan Amrabat is a fresher option.
Neither Marcus Rashford nor Anthony Martial covered themselves in glory against Newcastle, so Ten Hag will naturally consider recalls for Antony and Rasmus Hojlund, but Bruno Fernandes and Alejandro Garnacho ought to be in no danger of ceding their places.
Manchester United possible starting lineup: Onana; Dalot, Maguire, Lindelof, Shaw; McTominay, Mainoo; Antony, Fernandes, Garnacho; Hojlund
> Click here to see how Chelsea could line up for this clash
Ben Knapton
