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How Manchester United could line up against Wolverhampton Wanderers

How Man United could line up against Wolves
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Sports Mole looks at how Manchester United could line up for Sunday's Premier League meeting with Wolverhampton Wanderers, without new signing Cristiano Ronaldo.

Cristiano Ronaldo's seismic return to Manchester United is the talk of world football at the moment, but supporters will be forced to wait to see him adorn the famous red shirt for the first time in 12 years when they take on Wolverhampton Wanderers at Molineux on Sunday.

Friday's sensational transfer U-turn saw Ronaldo begin the day seemingly destined for Manchester City, only for United to pull off a remarkable hijack and confirm their own agreement to bring the five-time Ballon d'Or winner back to Old Trafford just hours after their interest emerged.

Ronaldo will not join up with his teammates until after the international break and so will play no part at Molineux, although there could still be big-name debuts to keep the Man United fans happy in the meantime.

Raphael Varane is pushing for his first appearance for the club after being left as an unused sub during last weekend's 1-1 draw with Southampton, and the Frenchman could start alongside Harry Maguire at centre-back.

Jadon Sancho could also make his first start for the club having only featured from the bench so far, forcing Anthony Martial out of the team and pushing Mason Greenwood into the centre-forward position which is likely to soon be occupied by Ronaldo.

Greenwood has scored in both of United's matches so far this season, and another goal on Sunday would see him become just the second teenager in Premier League history to net in each of the first three games of a campaign, following Robbie Fowler.

Bruno Fernandes, the hat-trick hero from the opening day, will keep his place behind the striker, while Paul Pogba should once again feature on the left of the three attackers.

The Frenchman could be forced into a deeper position eventually given the sheer number of attacking options at Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's disposal, but for now his record-breaking tally of five assists in his opening two Premier League games of the season makes him almost undroppable from that position.

The introductions of Varane and Sancho could be the only changes to the side which started against Southampton, with Scott McTominay ruled out after undergoing surgery on his groin.

Marcus Rashford, Dean Henderson and Alex Telles also remain sidelined, while the match is likely to come too soon for Eric Bailly and Phil Jones.

Edinson Cavani could be involved for the first time this season, although he will most likely be eased in from the bench as he continues to build his way back up to full fitness at the start of the new campaign.

Manchester United possible starting lineup:
De Gea; Wan-Bissaka, Varane, Maguire, Shaw; Fred, Matic; Sancho, Fernandes, Pogba; Greenwood

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How you voted: Wolves vs Man Utd

Wolverhampton Wanderers
11.5%
Draw
7.7%
Manchester United
80.8%
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Former Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson and Cristiano Ronaldo pictured in October 2006
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15Leeds UnitedLeeds302148-42
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