Manchester United could confirm starting XI vs Athletic Bilbao at Bournemouth

Manchester United's slow march to a first bottom-half finish in 35 years continues today at Bournemouth.

The Premier League has been a write-off for United for several months but today's match has added importance ahead of the Europa League semi-final first leg against Athletic Bilbao on Thursday.

United could do with a modicum of momentum while a number of players are poised to start to fine-tune their match rhythm in the build-up to Bilbao.

Bournemouth, with a stadium that holds 11,307, were six places better off than United heading into this weekend and they are unbeaten in three games against them.

Here are five things to look out for:

Hint at the team for Bilbao?

Brentford away next week could be the fixture where Amorim makes ten or 11 changes. Today, he has to give players game time so that they are not undercooked.

Harry Maguire and Casemiro were sensibly unused against Wolves while Manuel Ugarte and Patrick Dorgu, the earliest withdrawals in the defeat, seem certain starters at San Mames on Thursday.

Maguire and Casemiro would be logical starters today, otherwise they will have gone two weeks without any match rhythm.

Will Mount start?

Mason Mount has been in team training for six weeks and is still yet to start. He has received more yellow cards this season than he has got goals for United and his stock is only buttressed by Amorim repeatedly declaring his "love" for him.

Mount may have to wait until Brentford next week for a start, depending on how Amorim manages the players' workload on the south coast today. Casemiro, Ugarte, Bruno Fernandes and Alejandro Garnacho are the likeliest midfielders and playmakers to start in Bilbao, while Kobbie Mainoo started against Wolves.

Shaw-ly not?

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