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Man Utd have three players bothering Ole Gunnar Solskjaer ahead of Southampton match
Manchester United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer will oversee his team's Premier League clash with Southampton on Sunday.
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Manchester United were too strong for Leeds last Saturday, running riot in an emphatic 5-1 win at Old Trafford. However, while that result was positive, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer now has some big decisions to make for Sunday’s Premier League showdown with Southampton. So Express Sport will now take a look at three players bothering the 48-year-old ahead of the match at St Mary’s.
Jadon Sancho
United signed Jadon Sancho for £73million earlier in the summer, finally landing the winger at the fourth time of asking.
However, against Leeds, Solskjaer opted to leave the 21-year-old on the bench.
The United manager was wary of throwing Sancho in at the deep end, particularly given how he’s only recently started training with his new team-mates.
And the England international wasn’t needed as the Red Devils turned on the style and saw the goals flow.
With Sancho now approaching full fitness, however, he’s given Solskjaer a selection dilemma.
Daniel James performed well against Leeds last week, with the Wales international shining both defensively and offensively over the course of 90 minutes.
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And with United needing to be at their best for the match, it’s given the Norwegian a headache.
Does he go with Sancho and hope the youngster shows his class?
Or does he go with James, who has proven to be a trusted figure throughout his two years in charge?
Of course, Sancho will eventually take James’ spot on the right wing. That’s destined to happen, given his gargantuan fee.
But whether that happens now, next week or further ahead remains to be seen.
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Raphael Varane
Solskjaer waxed lyrical over Raphael Varane when speaking before the match on Friday.
“I think if you follow football in the last 10 years… that’s the reason we want to sign him, what he’s done over his career,” Solskjaer said.
“It’s no secret that we were close - or we were in there - when he left to Real Madrid 10 years ago. Sir Alex was in there speaking to them and we were close.
“Ever since his performances on the pitch, his demeanour and behaviour off the pitch, it tells me that that’s a Man United player.”
United, obviously, have signed Varane because they feel he can be the ticket to Premier League glory.
But when it comes to starting him against Southampton, Solskjaer has to think things over.
Varane has only just started training with the Red Devils this week, after being paraded on the pitch before the Leeds drubbing.
And given how Victor Lindelof fared last weekend, the Sweden international shouldn’t necessarily be dropped right away.
So Varane is another player causing Solskjaer to think things over ahead of Sunday’s contest.
Edinson Cavani
United recently welcomed Edinson Cavani back to training after the veteran was given some more time off than his team-mates.
Yet given how brilliant Mason Greenwood was against Leeds, starting him is another dilemma on Solskjaer’s hands.
Greenwood was excellent, leading the line in a complete centre-forward’s display.
And though Cavani ended last season being among the goals, the 34-year-old may need some time to get back up to fitness.
The temptation to start him is obvious - but whether Solskjaer caves in to it remains to be seen.