Month: January 2023

Erling Haaland’s brilliant debut season at Manchester City looks set to see him break a number of records. 

With 25 goals from just 19 Premier League games, the Norwegian has already netted often enough to have topped the final scoring charts in several past seasons. 

Across all competitions he has 31 goals in 26 games, with the Citizens competing to land three trophies. 

Ahead of City’s mouth-watering FA Cup fourth-round clash with Arsenal, we turn the spotlight on the 22-year-old and examine what he can achieve this term. 

Premier League record

Haaland’s current tally of 25 goals would have seen him finish as the Premier League’s highest scorer in 16 of the 30 seasons since the competition began. 

This includes each of the last four seasons, which provides some context as to just how extraordinary the striker’s debut campaign is proving to be. 

With City having 18 Premier League games remaining, Haaland is on course to break every modern record going, if he can stay fit. 

At an average of 1.31 goals scored in every top-flight game since moving to England, Haaland would score 48 goals if he continued at such a rate and played in every remaining match. 

The most goals ever scored in a single Premier League season is 34. Andrew Cole managed that many for Newcastle in 1993-94, before Alan Shearer did likewise for Blackburn in the following season.

That was in the days of a 22-team Premier League, so Haaland has less games to play with, yet still seems assured of breaking the 34-goal record with some ease. 

History boys

Though Haaland looks sure to break the Premier League record, it remains to be seen as to whether he can continue to net at such a phenomenal rate. 

He has already slowed down a little after a tremendous start. His first nine games saw him score 15 Premier League goals. The next 10 appearances have brought another 10 goals, which is still sensational by any normal standards. 

Those latter figures were boosted with a hat-trick against Wolves in his last outing, bringing an abrupt end to a debate as to whether teams were working out how to stop the ex-Borussia Dortmund marksman.

Even if he were to score at a rate of less than a goal a game, Haaland could break the 40-goal barrier. The last player to do so in the English top flight was Chelsea’s Jimmy Greaves in 1960-61, when he notched 41 strikes. 

Before that, you have to go back to the 1934-35 season when Arsenal’s Ted Drake scored 42 times. Dixie Dean’s all-time record of 60 goals for Everton in 1927-28 looks safe, but that number is likely to remain eternal. 

Difference maker

At such a young age, it is frightening to consider just what records Haaland could have within his sights. 

Scoring 100 Premier League goals is normally considered a significant achievement, with only 33 players having done so. 

Haaland could easily reach that total quicker than anyone before him, long before his five-year contract expires. 

Were he to stay at the club for sufficient time, then Sergio Aguero’s record of 260 goals for Manchester City could be beaten, though somehow it is hard to imagine that the already well-travelled striker will stay put that long. 

Of course, none of the records that Haaland is set to break will mean a thing if City are not winning trophies at the same time. 

He was signed to be a player that could make a difference for Pep Guardiola’s team in big matches, particularly in the Champions League, which is a competition that the club have yet to win. 

Arsenal rivalry

The FA Cup fourth-round tie against Arsenal is exactly the sort of game which Haaland was brought in to influence. 

It is the first time that the top two teams in the Premier League have met this season and Manchester City have the opportunity to strike a psychological blow that could have a big impact on the title race. 

The Gunners are five points ahead of City with a game in hand. Mikel Arteta’s men will host their rivals in a crucial league match in mid-February before the reverse fixture in late April.

These upcoming encounters will be as big a test of Arsenal’s defensive prowess, as it will be of Haaland’s ability to cause damage to top sides. 

The forward looks set to have a record-breaking season, but these are the occasions on which he will ultimately be judged.

Jurgen Klopp once again lamented Liverpool’s fixture list and suggested FA Cup ties should not be played on weekend days.

Liverpool head to Brighton and Hove Albion in the fourth round on Sunday, eight days on from their most recent match – a 0-0 Premier League draw with Chelsea.

It has been a rare week off for Klopp’s men, who won both the FA Cup and Carabao Cup last season, but the German is still not entirely pleased with his side’s schedule.

“We’re not famous for going long in the cups, apart from last year,” he said at Friday’s pre-match press conference. “Cups are difficult when you have midweek games.

“Now we have full weeks to prepare, but in our schedule, I’m not sure the FA Cup should be at a weekend. But we deal with it. It’s not a problem for now.”

Liverpool are aiming to avoid successive losses against Brighton for the first time ever following their 3-0 league defeat at the Amex Stadium earlier this month.

Klopp described that performance at the time as the worst he has ever seen from one of his sides in a coaching career spanning 1,000 matches.

The Reds have since defeated Wolves 1-0 in the previous round of the FA Cup and played out a stalemate with Chelsea, which leaves them ninth in the league.

While his side have won just one of their five matches this calendar year, Klopp is glad they have kept back-to-back clean sheets for only the second time this season.

“Clean sheets are massive for us. Everyone waits for free-flowing performance but that takes time and it starts with clean sheets,” Klopp said.

“That Brighton game is still the worst game I have ever seen of a team of mine. Thank god as we have played a few games since then.

“The first half against Chelsea we were very disciplined and we didn’t give them a lot. We have to do that again against Brighton, of course.”

Liverpool have progressed from three of their five FA Cup games against Brighton, most recently winning 6-1 in a last-16 tie in February 2012.

However, since the 1925-26 season, only Wolves (30), Sheffield United (28) and West Ham (27) have suffered more fourth-round exits than Liverpool (26).

The Reds make the trip to England’s south coast with a number of players still injured, but Klopp confirmed some key men are closing in on a return.

“Diogo [Jota], Bobby [Roberto Firmino] and Virgil [van Dijk] are a couple of weeks from joining training,” he said.

“Arthur [Melo] is running a lot, so maybe two or three weeks before he joins team training, but he is looking good. Fabio Carvalho is still out and is not ready for Sunday.”

Liverpool’s January signing Cody Gakpo has struggled to live up to his lofty reputation at Anfield so far.

The Dutchman scored 13 goals and claimed 17 assists in 24 PSV Eindhoven appearances during the first half of the season, as well as netting three times for the Netherlands at the World Cup, to earn his move to Jurgen Klopp’s side.

But he is yet to open his account for the Reds in two Premier League starts and two cup outings.

Ahead of Sunday’s FA Cup fourth-round clash at Brighton, we turn the spotlight on the 23-year-old’s start to life on Merseyside.

New surroundings

A lot has changed for Gakpo in a short space of time.

The Eindhoven native has set up in a new city for the first time, while the Premier League is notoriously a difficult league to adapt to — particularly when you have spent your entire career in the Dutch leagues.

Ronald Koeman, who was recently confirmed as Gakpo’s new international boss with the Netherlands, insists a period of adjustment was always going to be in store for the World Cup star.

The Oranje coach, 59, said: “I think it’s important that he’s playing and that’s really important for a young kid like Gakpo.

“It’s difficult because Liverpool is not in the last few months at that [high] level. That’s always difficult for a new signing, to come in during the season.

“You have to give him that time to develop and to adapt to the Premier League because it’s a different level.

“The intensity is much higher than he used to play in Holland but he’s young and he will learn and he will be better. But he has a great future.”

Stumbling side

Gakpo is not joining a team that is firing on all cylinders.

Klopp’s men have been well below par this season and find themselves languishing in ninth in the Premier League table.

Gakpo watched from the stands as his new side suffered a 3-1 loss at Brentford days after his move, while his first league start was a disastrous 3-0 defeat at Brighton.

Liverpool are scoring less, creating fewer chances and finding the target less often compared to last season, so it is no wonder it has not been a seamless transition for their No18.

New signings making an instant impact has been something of a trait of Klopp’s outfit in recent years.

But with Gakpo being the third significant attacking reinforcement in the last 12 months after Luis Diaz and Darwin Nunez, a little more patience might be required with their new-look frontline. 

Different role

Gakpo has largely played as a centre forward who drifts wide — a position he starred in at the World Cup but different to the left-sided role he enjoyed for the most part at PSV.

Even when Nunez was brought on in their 0-0 draw against Chelsea, the Uruguayan was deployed in a wide left position with Gakpo remaining central — suggesting that is where Klopp sees the 6ft 2in forward fitting in long-term.

When the Dutchman joined, Klopp said of his best role: “He can play all four positions up front whatever you play.

“But the position he probably would say himself he prefers to play is the left wing in a 4-3-3. For us it’s clear, he can play the other positions. We know that and that’s why he was so interesting for us.”

In normal circumstances, Gakpo may have been eased in from the bench in order for Klopp to discover his most effective role in Liverpool’s attacking set-up.

But that he has been thrown straight into the German’s starting XI on the first four available opportunities is perhaps a sign of the lack of alternatives the Reds boss is currently working with.

Work in progress

There have certainly been signs of Gakpo’s quality shining through in his 334 minutes of action so far.

In those four games, no Liverpool player has taken more shots than the ex-Eredivisie ace (12), with only Mohamed Salah and Thiago Alcantara taking players on more often than his five.

The four aerial duels he has won is a stat bettered only by defender Ibrahima Konate (seven), backing up his credentials to be a future frontman.

But for such a prolific player at his previous club, no goals, assists or chances created in four games is undoubtedly a disappointment.

Gakpo will hope to get off the mark sooner rather than later to prevent his stuttering start becoming a bigger cause for concern.

Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich face Eintracht Frankfurt on Saturday hoping to pick up their first victory of 2023.

Borussia Dortmund, meanwhile, have won two on the bounce but travel to in-form Bayer Leverkusen on Sunday.

Hertha Berlin and Union Berlin contest a local derby in the capital, while RB Leipzig host struggling Stuttgart. 

Elsewhere, Wolfsburg look to overcome Werder Bremen on the road with a chance of breaking into the top four.

Game of the week: Bayern Munich vs Eintracht Frankfurt (Saturday, 5.30pm)

Bayern are top of the Bundesliga going into Matchday 18 despite a dip in form. 

After successive draws against RB Leipzig and then FC Cologne, the Bavarian giants will be keen to get back to winning ways. 

Bayern have recorded more home wins against upcoming opponents Eintracht Frankfurt (41) than any other side in the division, although they lost their last league clash with Die Adler at the Allianz Arena 2-1 having won each of the previous 12. 

Frankfurt’s Randal Kolo Muani (six goals, 10 assists) and Bayern’s Jamal Musiala (nine goals, six assists) are the two players in the German top flight with the most direct goal contributions.

Bayer Leverkusen vs Borussia Dortmund (Sunday, 4.30pm)

Dortmund are on an upward trajectory but their next opponents are in sensational form. 

Leverkusen have won five games in a row either side of the winter break and have not lost any of their first five home league outings under head coach Xabi Alonso (four wins, one draw), keeping clean sheets in four of those fixtures. 

And if BVB are to emerge triumphant on Sunday, they may have their bench to thank. 

Giovanni Reyna came on to score the winner against Mainz last time out — the eighth time a Dortmund substitute has found the net this term, more than any other club in the division.

Three of their last four league goals have been scored by substitutes, while both the goals Leverkusen have conceded in 2023 have also been scored by players coming off the bench.

Hertha Berlin vs Union Berlin (Saturday, 2.30pm)

The momentum in this fixture has swung Union’s way recently, with Hertha losing each of the last four Berlin derbies, conceding 12 times in the process. 

Hertha are in dreadful form and sit second-bottom having lost six of their last eight games and conceded eight times in their previous two. 

Union, meanwhile, are enjoying their best-ever points tally at this stage of a Bundesliga season (33 points from 17 games) and find themselves in second place. 

However, the visitors have failed to keep a clean sheet in any of their last seven league outings.

RB Leipzig vs Stuttgart (Friday, 7.30pm)

RB Leipzig and Stuttgart have faced each other nine times but the Swabians have never emerged victorious (two draws, seven defeats). 

All four encounters in Leipzig have been won by the hosts, who did not concede a single goal in those games. 

Marco Rose’s men are unbeaten in 15 matches across all competitions after their 6-1 drubbing of Schalke last time out — they have earned 27 points in the German manager’s 12 league fixtures at the helm. 

Stuttgart, meanwhile, have accrued just 16 points from their 17 Bundesliga outings this term and are winless in their last 18 on the road in the competition (nine draws, nine defeats). 

The hosts pose a varied threat, with 15 different players scoring for them so far this term. The visitors, meanwhile, have had just eight different goalscorers.

Werder Bremen vs Wolfsburg (Saturday, 2.30pm)

Werder and Wolfsburg have scored more Bundesliga goals against each other (87 and 88, respectively) than any other opponent. 

However, they come into this clash in very different veins of form. 

Werder have the worst record of any team in the competition over the last four matchdays, losing all four of their games and conceding 17 times. In contrast, Wolfsburg picked up maximum points and scored 15 goals in the same period.

The Wolves are on a 10-game unbeaten streak in the division (seven wins, three draws) after their record-equalling 5-0 away win at Hertha Berlin last time out took them to six consecutive victories.

They have scored at least twice in each of their previous eight league matches and kept five clean sheets in their last six — making them overwhelming favourites in Bremen.

The weekend’s other games

Mainz vs Bochum (Saturday, 2.30pm) 

Freiburg vs Augsburg (Saturday, 2.30pm) 

Hoffenheim vs Borussia Monchengladbach (Saturday, 2.30pm) 

Schalke vs FC Cologne (Sunday, 2.30pm) 

Follow each game with our unbeatable live scores service. Simply tap the Scores tab on the web or download the LiveScore app from the App Store for iOS devices or Google Play for Android.

Jurgen Klopp has sympathy for Frank Lampard following his sacking as Everton manager and believes the Englishman still has a big coaching career ahead of him.

Lampard was dismissed on Monday following a 2-0 loss at West Ham, which left Everton 19th in the Premier League and two points from safety.

The 44-year-old was only appointed by Everton 12 months ago and left Goodison Park with a record of nine wins from 38 league matches.

He was also previously sacked by Chelsea, but Klopp has backed Lampard to succeed in his next position after being given a tough time of things at Everton.

“That’s the business, that is how it goes,” Klopp told reporters on Friday ahead of Liverpool’s FA Cup fourth-round tie with Brighton and Hove Albion. 

“I feel for Frank. He tried everything. It was not easy for him last year and he did well. They lost Richarlison [to Tottenham] and we know how much injuries can affect a team. 

“Frank will come back. He’s still a young coach and has everything ahead of him.”

Sean Dyche is expected to be named as Everton’s seventh manager in as many years on Friday as the Toffees bid to avoid a first relegation since 1951.

Former Leeds United boss Marcelo Bielsa is reported to have been the favoured choice of owner Farhad Moshiri, and Klopp joked Dyche’s appointment may not be as clear-cut.

When told Dyche is set to take on the Everton job, Klopp replied: “Is he? That’s clear? But I saw Bielsa landing…”

Everton, who are on a four-game losing run, return to action with a home match against league leaders Arsenal on February 4.

Harry Kane will choose to stay with Tottenham and can win trophies with the club, says former Spurs manager Harry Redknapp.

Kane scored his 266th goal for Spurs in the 1-0 victory over Fulham on Monday, equalling Jimmy Greaves’ all-time goalscoring record for Tottenham and boosting their top-four hopes.

But with the striker’s contract due to expire in 18 months, it has been rumoured Kane may opt to leave to pursue silverware elsewhere, with links to European giants such as Bayern Munich and Manchester United.

Kane has spent 19 years with Spurs but is yet to lift any major trophies, losing the 2018-19 Champions League final to Liverpool and finishing as an EFL Cup runner-up twice.

But Redknapp, who handed Kane his Spurs debut in a Europa League qualifier against Hearts in 2011, is confident the 29-year-old will not move on.

He said: “I think he’ll stay there. He’s happy there.

“He’s got a fantastic contract, obviously, he earns amazing money. His life is good, got a lovely family. I think he’s moving house and his life is good. He’s enjoying his football there.”

Aside from Spurs’ bid to repeat their top-four finish of last season, the club remain in both the FA Cup and Champions League as they look to win their first major trophy since the EFL Cup in the 2007-08 campaign.

Redknapp believes the London side can provide Kane with a route to silverware, saying: “I think he feels he can still win something with Tottenham.

“I think Tottenham could win a trophy in the next year or two for sure. I think there’s got to be chances they’ll win the FA Cup.”

Xavi believes it will be a “catastrophe” if Barcelona do not beat Girona on Saturday as they look to keep up their LaLiga title charge.

A run of seven wins in eight league matches has put Xavi’s men top of the table, holding a three-point lead over rivals Real Madrid in second.

They continue their bid to win their first LaLiga title since the 2018-19 season on Saturday at home to Girona, who sit 11th and just four points above the relegation zone.

Xavi hopes his team can pick up another three points amid the pressure of a title race, telling reporters: “You have to beat Girona. This is Barca.

“This is the Barca environment, I know it very well. If we don’t win tomorrow, it will be a catastrophe.

“Try to win it because it will be a difficult match. Michel [Girona head coach] has said that they have nothing to lose and we will come out with pressure because we want to win LaLiga.”

Xavi is hoping Ousmane Dembele will extend his Barcelona contract amid rumours of a move to Paris Saint-Germain.

Dembele scored Barca’s winner as they beat Real Sociedad in the Copa del Rey quarter-finals on Wednesday, continuing his excellent form this season after a tough 2021-22 campaign.

The France international has been involved in 15 goals with Barcelona in all competitions this season, already equalling his record of last term, but with his contract set to expire in 2024, there had been rumours of a move to PSG.

But Xavi wants Dembele to remain with the Spanish giants, telling reporters: “Ousmane is an important player, someone who makes a difference.

“It’s difficult to find these kind of players. For me, he’s a key player. Ousmane knows it, the club knows it.

“He has changed his mentality and I hope to have him here for many more years.”

Barca overcame wastefulness in front of goal to overcome La Real and reach the Copa del Rey final four, with Dembele’s goal enough to secure a narrow 1-0 win despite having 20 shots.

While Xavi is concerned about his side’s profligacy in front of goal in tight matches, he believes his team are much improved from last season, saying: “I am worried about not finishing them [close games]. Many things have to be improved

“We have to value how we were last year and how we are now. There are things to improve, obviously, but I think we are in a very good moment of form and it should be valued.”

– Nine of Tottenham’s 15 wins this season have been by exactly one goal 
– Five of Preston’s 11 defeats in 2022-23 have been by one-goal margins 
– Recommended bet: Tottenham to win by 1 goal

After correctly predicting Chelsea to avoid defeat at Liverpool last Saturday, Simon Barlow now assesses Tottenham’s trip to Preston in the FA Cup.

Preston put their Championship campaign on hold to chase FA Cup giant-killing glory when Tottenham visit Deepdale in the fourth round on Saturday evening.

These two clubs, who are both nicknamed the Lilywhites, are in similar form with Preston sitting 11th in the Championship after two wins and three defeats in their last five games while Spurs occupy fifth spot in the Premier League following an identical run.

Ryan Lowe’s side knocked Huddersfield out in round three while Antonio Conte’s men booked their place in the fourth round with a 1-0 victory at home to Portsmouth.

Spurs have suffered demoralising defeats to Arsenal and Manchester City since then, but Harry Kane’s winner got them back on track against Fulham on Monday as he chases Jimmy Greaves’ all-time goalscoring record for the club.

Team news

On-loan Manchester City forward Liam Delap is cup-tied for this one, having played in the third round for Stoke City before transferring to Deepdale.

Another loanee, Tottenham’s Troy Parrott, cannot face his parent club, so Ched Evans and Thomas Cannon should spearhead the home side’s attack.

Emil Riis Jakobsen is injured and Sean Maguire left Preston to sign a permanent deal with Coventry this week.

Midfielders Ben Whiteman and Brad Potts look set to miss out through injury, but Manchester United’s on-loan wing-back Alvaro Fernandez should start on the left-hand side of a 3-5-2 formation.

For Spurs, Conte must decide whether to rest Kane from his starting line-up and give Richarlison his first start since the World Cup.

New signing Arnaut Danjuma, who has joined on loan from Villarreal for the remainder of the season, will probably start on the bench with Heung-Min Son and Dejan Kulusevski tipped to start in the wide roles.

Lucas Moura is still out with a tendon problem, while Bryan Gil has not featured since the North London Derby and could miss out again.

Fraser Forster will probably be rotated in to replace under-fire Spurs skipper Hugo Lloris in goal while Japhet Tanganga and Clement Lenglet are due recalls, which would enable Conte to rest Cristian Romero and Ben Davies.

The stats

Kane was understood to have equalled Greaves’ long-standing record of 266 goals for Spurs earlier in the week.

However, two goals that Greaves scored in the 1962 Charity Shield seem to have been omitted from the legend’s tally and there is some debate over whether or not they should count.

Kane has scored 14 goals in his last 14 appearances in the FA Cup for Tottenham, which includes netting their winner in the third round against Portsmouth.

Preston have not progressed beyond the fourth round of the FA Cup since the 2014-15 campaign and have not faced Tottenham in any competition since September 2009, when they lost 5-1 in a League Cup tie at Deepdale with Peter Crouch scoring a hat-trick.

Prediction

Conte’s Tottenham usually set up to invite teams on to them in the Premier League in a bid to create scoring opportunities in transition, but Preston are unlikely to let that happen.

North End’s results are much better when they have seen less of the ball as they have won four and drawn one of the six games when their share of possession has been 35% or lower.

So there could be times in this game when the football is not that great to watch with neither side willing to risk too much in attack.

Spurs have the quality to win a game of few chances, but there might not be enough of a difference in the teams’ form and confidence levels for the visitors to achieve a convincing victory.

Tottenham could only beat League One Portsmouth by a single goal in the previous round and that has tended to be the way for them in a season where nine of their 15 wins have been by the minimum margin.

Back Spurs to win by one goal again here — available at 12/5 with LiveScore Bet.

Christophe Galtier has held talks with Presnel Kimpembe to clarify that the centre-back remains one of Paris Saint-Germain’s vice-captains.

Kylian Mbappe wore the captain’s armband in Monday’s 7-0 Coupe de France win over sixth-tier Pays de Cassel in the absence of regular skipper Marquinhos.

Speaking to reporters after the cup rout, Galtier said Mbappe – who scored five times – “deserves” to be second captain when Marquinhos is not available.

Kimpembe, who has not played since November due to a heel injury, took to social media on Tuesday to state he had not been previously informed about Galtier’s decision.

However, PSG head coach Galtier has since discussed the matter with Kimpembe to dissipate any misunderstanding.

“I expressed myself badly on Monday,” Galtier said at a pre-match press conference ahead of Sunday’s Ligue 1 match with Reims. 

“The choices are very clear: Kylian is one of the vice-captains. Every time Kimpembe has been on the field and Marquinhos hasn’t been, Kimpembe has had the armband.

“When Marquinhos isn’t available, there is another captain. In the Lens match there was neither Kimpembe, Marco [Verratti] nor Marquinhos, so Kylian was captain.

“I decided to have Kylian as captain in the last game because he is one of the vice-captains, not ‘the’ vice-captain. I’ve had a discussion with Kimpembe to explain all this.”

PSG’s victory against Pays de Cassel came on the back of a 1-0 loss to Rennes in their most recent Ligue 1 match as their lead on Lens at the summit was cut to three points.

However, not since September 2020 have they lost successive league matches, while their return of 47 points after 19 matches is their fifth-best ever at this stage.

The reigning champions face a tough test this weekend, though, as they host a Reims side unbeaten in 11 Ligue 1 games – the longest run of any side in the division.

“It will be a difficult match for us to begin this run of games,” Galtier said. “They have changed system and coach, and we know it will be a challenge for us.

“We now have Kimpembe back in training and Marco Verratti is back with the group. We have to cope with the calendar and focus more on recovery.”

PSG are unbeaten in their past 31 Ligue 1 games at the Parc des Princes, winning 27 of those, and have scored in each of the past 20 on home soil.

Jadon Sancho is “making steps” towards returning for Manchester United and could play against Reading in the FA Cup on Saturday, manager Erik ten Hag revealed.

Sancho has not featured for United since a 1-1 draw against Chelsea in October, with Ten Hag giving the reason for his absence as “circumstances with fitness and mood”.

The 22-year-old returned to training last week, but Ten Hag ruled him out of the 3-2 Premier League defeat at leaders Arsenal on Sunday, a loss that ended a run of six league games undefeated.

During Sancho’s time away, Ten Hag has played both 18-year-old Alejandro Garnacho and Marcus Rashford at left-wing, the latter of whom is on a run of 10 goals in as many games in all competitions since returning from the World Cup.

While Garnacho and Rashford have impressed in Sancho’s absence, with United the only English team left competing on four fronts, the former Borussia Dortmund man’s return could provide Ten Hag with useful depth as they bid to end a six-year trophy drought.

Ten Hag is hoping Sancho will be back on the field soon, and did not rule out him making an appearance against Reading at Old Trafford in the FA Cup fourth round.

“He [Sancho] is training with the team, and we will see,” Ten Hag told reporters. “He’s improving, he’s making steps, and we will make the decision after training [whether he will play against Reading].

“He’s on the way back, he’s making steps, he’s back in team training, and we have to see when he’s ready to go back into games.”

The cup tie with Reading will be United’s eighth match since the start of 2023, but Ten Hag is confident of putting out a more than capable line-up against the Royals, saying: “We always have issues.

“But I think tomorrow we will have a strong selection for this game, we have a good squad, we can cover things.”

Ten Hag warned against complacency against a side 30 places below them in the English football pyramid, explaining: “Football is never decided on paper, we have to be ready for every game.

“Every opponent will be tough. Especially in the cup for them, it’s a perfect chance. We have to be aware of that, be on the front foot, focused and [with] energy. We want to win every game.”

United continue to have problems at full-back, with Luke Shaw and Diogo Dalot both missing the 3-0 EFL Cup semi-final first-leg victory over Nottingham Forest with knocks.

Ten Hag ruled out Dalot for the Reading game while he could not commit on Shaw, though he lauded Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Tyrell Malacia for how they deputised against Forest.

“Dalot definitely out and Shaw a question mark,” Ten Hag added. “We have to see after training.

“I think Aaron and Tyrell play magnificent in this moment, on Wednesday they were really brilliant, the whole back four was really brilliant. 

“In the back four we have really adapted the squad, that’s what you need with 10 games in 30 days.”