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Manchester United are back in action this evening as they travel to high-flying Nottingham Forest in what is their first game back after the international break.
Ruben Amorim’s side were showing signs of finally getting to grips with his system before the break and will be desperate to continue their improvements at the City Ground tonight.
However, Forest’s five point cushion to Chelsea in fourth underlines the incredible season Nuno Espirito Santo’s men are enjoying and United will have to be at their absolute best leave with maximum points.
The home side will set up to play on the counter attack, as they have done all season, so whilst United might see a lot of the ball they must stay concentrated on transitions to avoid falling into Forest’s trap.
Ex-Red Devil Anthony Elanga and former Chelsea man Callum Hudson-Odoi have been causing damage on either flank since the start of the season and stopping the two wide men will be key disarming Nuno’s side.
Forest are also strong at the back with their two centre-halves Nikola Milenković and Murillo happy to deal with balls into their box as well as providing a threat at the other end.
Therefore, United will have to improve their set-piece defending, something they fell foul of in the first five minutes of the reverse fixture at Old Trafford which Forest won 3-2.
As ever, Bruno Fernandes will be United’s creator and chief in attacking areas, the Portuguese star was in wonderful form before the break and will hoping to pick up where he left off tonight.
It could be the perfect night for the captain with United getting into the half spaces through quick and creative play their best chance of penetrating the hosts who much prefer dealing with balls into the box.
United’s wing backs will be busy again with quick switches a key feature in the joy they had in games before the internationals and setting them free in the wide areas should prove fruitful again tonight.
Despite the contrasting campaign of the two sides, United still possess players capable of producing a performance that should overpower a team that were fighting relegation last year.
United have also had an extra few days at Carrington after missing the weekend round of fixtures due to the FA Cup in which Forest slogged out 120 minutes with Brighton.
Amorim will be hoping the additional sharpness will be the difference tonight and United can inch closer to the top half of the Premier League table whist continuing their steady improvements under the new regime.
Featured image Carl Recine via Getty Images
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