(3-4-3) New Manchester United line up under Missimiliano Alergri – as INEOS plan to officially sack Ten Hag Today if He fails to deliver Porto positive result

Manchester United could be heading into their crucial Europa League clash against Porto at Estadio do Dragao on Thursday with up to six key players unavailable, adding to the pressure on manager Erik ten Hag, whose future is hanging in the balance.

The Red Devils are still reeling from a painful 3-0 loss to Tottenham Hotspur in their latest Premier League outing. To make matters worse, young star Kobbie Mainoo was forced off the field in the first half with a muscle injury, casting doubt over his availability for the Porto game. His absence would be a significant blow to the team as they look to bounce back on the European stage.

Mason Mount, who has had his share of injury struggles since joining the club, also had to be substituted due to a cut to his head during the Tottenham match. Though he later assured fans via social media that he was fine, the midfielder’s condition will still be carefully monitored before kickoff. Additionally, defender Harry Maguire missed the Spurs game after picking up a knock, and it remains uncertain whether he will recover in time for Thursday’s encounter.

In more positive news, Tyrell Malacia and Victor Lindelof have returned to first-team training after overcoming knee and toe injuries, respectively. Lindelof was fit enough to be an unused substitute against Tottenham, though Malacia’s availability for the Porto match is still in question. Unfortunately, the Red Devils will still be without Leny Yoro and Luke Shaw, both of whom remain on the injury list with foot and calf problems.

Erik ten Hag, who is facing mounting pressure to deliver results, could be forced to shake up his squad for the must-win fixture. However, it is likely that his defensive lineup of Noussair Mazraoui, Matthijs de Ligt, Lisandro Martinez, and Diogo Dalot will remain unchanged, given the lack of alternative options due to injuries.

If Mainoo is ruled out, Ten Hag will need to rely on either Casemiro, who has experience playing against his former club Porto, or Christian Eriksen, to partner with Manuel Ugarte in central midfield. Despite receiving a red card in the loss to Tottenham, Bruno Fernandes is eligible to play in this Europa League tie and will likely continue in his attacking midfield role, orchestrating the team’s play from the number 10 position.

In attack, Ten Hag faces a decision regarding Joshua Zirkzee, who squandered a few key chances against Spurs. The Dutchman could be replaced by Rasmus Hojlund, who is now fit and ready to start after recovering from injury. Meanwhile, competition for the wide positions remains fierce, with Amad Diallo and Antony pushing for starting spots over Alejandro Garnacho and Marcus Rashford.

As the pressure mounts on Ten Hag to deliver a positive result, reports suggest that Manchester United’s potential new owners, INEOS, may be ready to act decisively if the team fails to perform. Speculation is rife that the club is considering replacing Ten Hag with experienced Italian coach Massimiliano Allegri, should the outcome of the Porto game be unfavorable.

With such high stakes and a number of players facing fitness concerns, Manchester United’s potential lineup for the Europa League showdown could look like this: Onana; Mazraoui, De Ligt, Martinez, Dalot; Eriksen, Ugarte; Diallo, Fernandes, Rashford; Hojlund.

This match could be a turning point for Manchester United’s season and for Erik ten Hag’s future, as the team battles both their injury woes and the intense scrutiny of their management.