Four Manchester United teenagers could be named in squad vs Middlesbrough in FA Cup

Playing two completely different sides against Middlesbrough and Burnley would be senseless when United have not played for 13 days and the FA Cup is their best avenue to silverware. Tonight is also the first of seven games in 22 days and Ralf Rangnick has cut it fine by whittling the squad down to 25 players.

Boro was earmarked by Rangnick as Paul Pogba's return date and, provided his injury timeline has not changed, it would be sensible to start Pogba for the first time since November 2. On his day, Pogba is the best footballer at United but those days are too few and far between.

For Rangnick's coaching legacy at United, it is logical to try and maximise Pogba's talent so he can show, in the words of the German, 'what an extraordinary player he could be' the month before he turns 29.

United had a surfeit of right-sided options at the start of the season and now they are lacking. They signed four right wingers in under two years but two are on loan (Facundo Pellistri and Amad) and the other two prefer to operate from the left (Jadon Sancho and the sold Daniel James).

For the foreseeable and the good of the side, Sancho is going to have to play on the right even though his competitors on the opposite flank aren't imposing. The winter break has provided Sancho with time to reset midway through a galling season.

Fred had a night off in Brazil's 4-0 thumping of Paraguay but Alex Telles made his international return in a heavily-rotated team. Edinson Cavani was also on the scoresheet in Uruguay's 4-1 rout of Venezuela.

Due to the timing of the World Cup qualifiers and United's fourth round tie, it is doubtful if any of their three South Americans will be involved against Boro. Luke Shaw and Pogba could come into the XI