Youngster Handed Debut: Predicted Man Utd Starting XI To Face West Ham

Manchester United will look to get back to winning ways when they take on West Ham at Old Trafford on Saturday. Here is the team we think Louis van Gaal will select.

Goalkeeper: No doubt David De Gea will start in goal unless he picks up a late injury.

Defence: Louis van Gaal has serious problems in defence with just one senior fit centre-back available for selection. Chris Smalling picked up a knock in training on Wednesday so joins Jonny Evans on the sidelines after he was forced off against Leicester with an ankle injury.

The pair join Phil Jones on the sidelines while Tyler Blackett is suspended after his sending off last week, so van Gaal has confirmed he’ll promote one of the clubs youngsters. Under-21 skipper Tom Thorpe is under consideration but the Guardian believe it will be Paddy McNair who gets the nod alongside Marcos Rojo with Luke Shaw making his full debut at left-back.

Midfield: With Michael Carrick, Marouane Fellaini and Ashley Young all still injured, van Gaal has few options to mix things up in midfield, so it seems likely he’ll stick with Daley Blind, Ander Herrera and Angel Di Maria.

Attack: The United boss has also confirmed that he isn’t convinced by Wayne Rooney as a centre-forward so is expected to deploy him in the hole behind Radamel Falcao and Robin van Persie with Juan Mata the man to miss out once again.

This is how we think van Gaal will line-up his side:

What do you think of the team? What side would you put out?