Manchester United have been handed a double boost ahead of their Saturday evening clash against Tottenham Hotspur, with the return of Raphael Varane and Edinson Cavani to training.
Tottenham fans won’t like to hear it, given what will be at stake over the weekend, but Varane and Cavani, who missed the Manchester derby thrashing, are back at Carrington, according to the club’s official website.
With Varane, it was the issue of previously testing positive for COVID, whilst Cavani has seemingly overcome groin problems.
Either way, this indifferent and chaotic Manchester United side will be looking to do their talking on the field of play, rather than posting essay after essay on social media after a defeat.
Given how the Tottenham train runs, they are now due a defeat because they smashed out-of-sorts Everton 5-0 on Monday night.
In fact, the last time Spurs locked horns with their Champions League-chasing rivals, they were beaten 3-0 and it proved to be the end of Nuno Espirito Santo’s reign in north London.
Actually, both dugouts will have different managers on the Old Trafford touchline from that reverse fixture because it’s Ralf Rangnick trying to outwit Antonio Conte.
It’s going to be interesting to see how Man United set up because, as teams have proven, sit back on Spurs and you can eat them alive.
If not, then the Premier League’s record-breaking duo, Heung-Min Son and Harry Kane, will only add to their 37 goal combinations.
Last season, behind-closed-doors, Spurs remarkably beat Man United 6-1 in their own back yard.
You would think such a result would hit the headlines the following morning, but with Aston Villa putting seven goals past Liverpool hours later, it proved to be one of the most remarkable evenings in English football history.
Nonetheless, the meeting on Saturday could prove to be significant because fifth-placed Manchester United are two points ahead of Spurs in the Premier League table.
But Conte’s side does have two games in hand, so winning at Old Trafford again would be a real signal of intent, although if Varane does start, then he will surely boost this error-prone and erratic Man United backline.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
