Three ways Man United could line up without Bruno Fernandes in Chelsea Premier League clash

Manchester United will be looking to end an eight-match winless run when they travel to Chelsea in the Premier League on Saturday afternoon. The Red Devils werebattered 3-0 at Old Trafford by Bournemouthlast weekend, when club captain Bruno Fernandes was an unused substitute, sentenced to a rare watching brief at the Theatre of Dreams.

The Portuguese playmaker was extremely critical of Michael Carrick 's tactics following United's 4-1 defeat by Como in the Champions League, but could return to the starting XI at Stamford Bridge. That being said, the under-pressure head coach may still opt for a Fernandes-less team, and here Sports Mole discusses some of the potential options.

A major disappointment since his summer switch from Aston Villa, Youri Tielemans started in the attacking-midfield role for Manchester United against Bournemouth. Carrick's botched experiment lasted just 45 minutes, with the 29-year-old replaced by Matheus Cunha at the break after zero chances created, zero shots on target and just two passes into the final third.

The Red Devils created just 0.25 xG during a first half in which Tielemans found himself painfully out of position, with Bournemouth taking a two-goal lead courtesy of Rayan and Marcus Tavernier efforts. The 20-time English champions would be in the right to sack Carrick on the spot if he starts the ex-Villan in that progressive role at Stamford Bridge, and there is a wider debate to be had on whether Tielemans is deserving of a spot anywhere in a Manchester United side.

That would see Tielemans dumped out of the side and into a watching role alongside the Portuguese midfielder, with Brazil international Cunha making his seventh Premier League start of the term. With four goal contributions across his opening 12 appearances this season, the former Wolverhampton Wanderers hero is a consistent contributor at this level, outperforming Tielemans in attacking positions.

Another Premier League-proven asset, Bryan Mbeumo would continue leading the line for the Red Devils in this hypothetical XI over Joshua Zirkzee, who has never really shown himself as a credible starter. Amad Diallo and Diogo Dalot could operate as the wing-backs with Andrey Santos and Carlos Baleba making up the midfield double pivot, leaving room for three central attackers at the top of the pitch.

Man Utd would probably favour a trio who could interchange to disrupt a unsettled Chelsea backline, with Mason Mount, Mbeumo and Cunha probably the pick of Carrick's forwards at present. Man Utd possible lineup: Lammens; Mazraoui, Maguire, Martinez; Amad, Santos, Baleba, Dalot; Mount, Cunha; Mbeumo