Town have named the same team which beat Sunderland 2-1 at Portman Road last weekend for this afternoon’s live Sky game at Manchester United with new signing Exequiel Palacios on the bench (KO 4.30pm).

Kjell Scherpen continues in goal behind a back four of, from the right, skipper Dara O’Shea, Issa Diop, Jacob Greaves, who is making his 50th start for the club, and Leif Davis.

Marcelino Nunez continues to partner Sasa Lukic in central midfield with Abdul Fatawi wide on the right, Daizen Maeda on the left and Julio Enciso the number 10. Emersonn is the out-and-out striker.

World Cup winner Palacios, who signed from Bayer Leverkusen on Thursday, replaces Cameron Humphreys among the subs. Florentino Luis is again missing due to his calf issue.

Manchester United head coach Michael Carrick makes four changes from the team which lost 2-0 at Hull City last week with Diogo Dalot and Lisandro Martinez coming into the defence for Noussair Mazraoui and Ayden Heaven, who drop to the bench.

Kobbie Mainoo returns to the midfield for Andrey Santos, who is also among the subs, while Marcus Rashford starts a Premier League game at Old Trafford for the Red Devils for the first time since December 2024, replacing Patrick Dorgu, who was sent off in the corresponding fixture two years ago and also on the bench.

Manchester United: Lammens, Dalot, Maguire, Martinez, Shaw, Mainoo, Tielemans, Mbeumo, Fernandes (c), Rashford, Cunha. Subs: Darlow, Mazraoui, Dorgu, Yoro, Heaven, Santos, Zirkzee, Sesko, Lacey.

Town: Scherpen, O’Shea (c), Diop, Greaves, Davis, Nunez, Lukic, Fatawu, Enciso, Maeda, Emersonn. Subs: Walton, Furlong, Kipre, Walle Egeli, McAteer, Akpom, Palacios, Ouattara, Clarke. Referee: Craig Pawson (South Yorkshire). Assistants: Lee Betts and Mat Wilkes. Fourth official Andy Madley. VAR: Jarred Gillett. Assistant: Tim Wood.

Photo: ITFC/Matchday Images