The Red Devils are still search of their first European win of the season having drawn their first three matches against FC Twente, Porto and Fenerbahçe when former head coach Erik ten Hag was in charge. With former striker Ruud van Nistelrooy now at the helm on an interim basis, United will look to pick up three points in the Europa League to move toward qualification for the next round.
United is fresh off a 1–1 home draw against Chelsea at the weekend in which Moisés Caicedo's 74th-minute volley canceled out Bruno Fernandes's penalty kick. It's worth noting that since ten Hag's dismissal after the defeat at West Ham, United is unbeaten in two matches under van Nistelrooy with a 5–2 thumping of Leicester City in the Carabao Cup in the draw vs. Chelsea last weekend.
Even with the growing injury list in the United squad with players like Christian Eriksen, Kobbie Mainoo, Luke Shaw and Harry Maguire all expected to miss the match, the Red Devils should be expected to have enough in them to get the three points in front of their supporters.
Here's how United could lineup for its midweek clash against PAOK Thessaloniki.
GK: André Onana—The Cameroon international aims to keep his first clean sheet in goal since the 0–0 draw at Aston Villa in early October.
RB: Diogo Dalot—Dalot has been one of United's better performers this season and he should keep his place in the side at right back.
CB: Matthijs de Ligt—The ex-Bayern Munich defender starts in the heart of defense and van Nistelrooy will hope to have the match wrapped up early on to rest him for the upcoming contest against Leicester City.
CB: Jonny Evans—Lisandro Martínez gets the chance to catch his breath while Evans starts alongside de Ligt in the backline.
LB: Noussair Mazraoui—The Morocco international put in a solid showing at the weekend vs. Chelsea and will hope to replicate that performance in the Europa League.
DM: Manuel Ugarte—The ex-PSG midfielder struggled a bit against Chelsea but will look to put that performance in the rear view mirror and and turn the page against PAOK Thessaloniki.
DM: Casemiro—Ahead of the weekend, van Nistelrooy would probably prefer to rest Casemiro but may not have another choice but to start him once again due to the injuries in his squad.
RW: Amad Diallo—Diallo gets a rare start out on the right wing, looking to prove what he can do as van Nistelrooy cold give Alejandro Garnacho a rest ahead of the weekend.
AM: Bruno Fernandes—The Red Devils currently cannot afford to play without their captain shouldering the creative responsibilities. Fernandes hopes to be among the goals to propel his team to victory.
LW: Marcus Rashford—Rashford features from the jump on the left-wing, aiming to link up with the likes of Joshua Zirkzee and Fernandes to create chances for the Red Devils.
ST: Joshua Zirkzee—Zirkzee should lead the line after Rasmus Højlund got the nod up front against Chelsea. The 23-year-old is searching for his second goal at the club after his first strike back in mid-August against Fulham.
Van Nistelrooy isn't concerned about accusations that United lack a style of play.
"I didn't hear it, but when you tell me now, it's not of the biggest importance," he told TNT Sports.
"Of course, I want to have the players on the pitch to play at their best, then you have to make a formation to play and a formation to defend and work on different skills.
"But I think confidence is such a big thing in football. Sometimes when the confidence is low and results are against you, it affects performances and style because all of a sudden you see players connecting and in the Leicester game we scored four goals in just one half.
"Wow, a great attacking style again, so it's a silly thing the confidence thing in football."
United have taken the lead five times this season and failed to go on and win the game. You could add Brighton to that as the manner of their disallowed goal, with Zirkzee densely sliding in for a ball that had gone past him, was more than a squandered chance to go 2-1 up.
There is still no jeopardy in this competition and there won’t be until next month. If United finish in the top eight having failed to win their first three games it will be good going.
Expected Van Nistelrooy to go strong tonight and he has done. Maybe a little surprise at the two changes in the centre of defence but United should have enough control tonight to make sure that Lindelof and Evans are protected. Van Nistelrooy will want wins to burnish his own managerial credentials and United’s slow start to the Europa League means they can’t afford to take too many risks either.
Van Nistelrooy felt the centre halves did well on Sunday, which was an exaggeration, but their bench roles tonight will be a view to their recalls against Leicester.
Amad was overdue a start and is a logical inclusion to freshen up the attack. United are not in a position to make wholesale changes and three was probably the absolute most Van Nistelrooy could get away with.
PAOK will have a vociferous following tonight. Greek fans seldom get this opportunity to remind the wider footballing world what a partisan bunch they are and this is the first time PAOK are playing at Old Trafford. United haven’t actually played a Greek team since the turnaround under David Moyes against Olympiakos in March 2014 when in the 2000s they played Panathinaikos and Olympiakos eight times in four seasons running.
Tonight's game between United and PAOK will be shown live on TNT Sports 2.
Coverage is scheduled to begin at 7pm, one hour before kick-off.
Alternatively, stick with the Manchester Evening News' live blog as we bring you constant updates and analysis from Old Trafford, along with reaction from the players and interim manager Ruud van Nistelrooy.
