Manchester United vs. Middlesbrough: Team News, Preview, Live Stream, TV Info

Aitor Karanka brings his Middlesbrough side to Old Trafford for a Capital One Cup clash without much pressure on his shoulders.

The Championship club's priorities surely lie elsewhere, with the riches of the Premier League glistening on an attainable horizon. 

For Louis van Gaal, the League Cup represents possibly this season's most attainable silverware for Manchester United.

Earlier this week, in an interview for the derby-day programme (h/t the club's website), Wayne Rooney spoke of Anthony Martial and Memphis Depay's chances of emulating Cristiano Ronaldo and his remarkable achievements at United.

The Old Trafford captain said: 

"

If they keep learning and progressing like they are, then hopefully they will do what me and Ronaldo did back then. It would be great for the team if they can do that.

The good thing is that they want to learn and that is good to see in young players. They haven’t come in and just done things the way they want to do them. They are doing things for the team and listening to what the manager is saying to them.

I am sure under this manager they will learn a lot and that will help them become top, top players in the world.

"

TOM HEVEZI/Associated Press

For Rooney, the League Cup was the beginning of it all—his first trophy as a United player in 2006.

Each of the subsequent three seasons saw the Red Devils lift the Premier League trophy, which had been absent from Old Trafford since 2003. Perhaps League Cup victory could be a similar catalyst for the emerging stars of Van Gaal's side? 

Middlesbrough should, on paper, make for tough opponents. Karanka, though, has hinted at changes to his side, per Philip Tallentire of Middlesbrough Evening Gazette, saying "We have to be careful with the game on Wednesday because we have a lot of players with four yellow cards, a few players are injured and our squad is not big."

When Mick McCarthy brought his Ipswich Town side to Old Trafford in the third round, he made sweeping changes, making for an easier day at the office for the very strong United XI which was selected that day.

If the Teessiders make wholesale changes, it could be a similar story on Wednesday evening. 

Date: Wednesday, 28 October 2015

Time: 8:00 p.m. GMT / 4:00 p.m. ET

Venue: Old Trafford, Manchester

TV Info: beIN Sports (U.S. Only)

Live Stream: beIN Sports Connect (U.S. Only)

Form Lines

Manchester United: WWLWDD

Middlesbrough:  WWLDLW

Team News

James Tuck of the official United website reported, "Antonio Valencia is a doubt after being forced off with a foot injury near the end of Sunday's derby match. The Reds are without Luke Shaw and Paddy McNair but Ashley Young and James Wilson are nearing a return." 

Speaking to MUTV (h/t ManUtd.com), Van Gaal hinted at changes from recent lineups, saying:

"

I have a lot of players in the "red zone" because we have had a lot of matches and we have a lot of matches to play. I have to see if I can use them or not. I have to decide tomorrow [Wednesday].

We need all the days to recover at this moment, so it is difficult to say.

"

According to the official Middlesbrough website, the Teessiders will be without Albert Adomah, who twisted his ankle in the win at Wolverhampton Wanderers on Saturday. Adam Forshaw missed that game with an injury and is considered a doubt, although Stewart Downing did manage to feature as a substitute at Molineux, in spite of carrying a knock. 

Cristhian Stuani is still injured, as are "long-term injury victims Alex Baptiste, Rhys Williams, and Damia Abella."

The Middlesbrough Evening Gazette lists Daniel Ayala, Adam Clayton, Grant Leadbitter and Diego Fabbrini as the players Karanka could rest, given they are "walking a disciplinary tightrope on four yellow cards."

Predicted Lineups

With Van Gaal confirming to MUTV (h/t the club's website) that Wilson and Andreas Pereira are in the squad, the lineup could look something like that shown above. Of course, with the League Cup it is closer to an educated guess than a prediction.

Included above are Michael Carrick and Daley Blind, on the rationale that they need some game time. Chris Smalling is rested, given how vital he is to United's current form, and how much football he has played in recent weeks.

David De Gea will presumably play, given that Van Gaal has never once rested him. Elsewhere, youngsters Pereira, Jesse Lingard and Wilson are all included, on the basis that none of them featured for the Under-21s against Sunderland.

Memphis Depay is included, and this is a fine opportunity for him to be reintegrated into the first-team picture. 

Ivan Sekretarev/Associated Press

Boro's lineup is even harder to predict, given Karanka's suggestion that he will mix things up here. Expect to see some youngsters on view as the Teessiders concentrate their efforts on a promotion push. 

Players to Watch 

Selecting players to watch is a challenge given the likelihood of changes. However, assuming he plays, Pereira may be one to keep an eye on. He certainly impressed against Ipswich, against whom he scored a magnificent free-kick. 

Indeed, the 19-year-old gave the impression of being ready for the step up to first-team action during that game, although since then, he has only featured in a 28-minute long cameo against Wolfsburg in the Champions League.

He was unable to take his chance to impress in that game, but this may be another opportunity for the young Brazilian to shine. 

For Middlesbrough, fit-again Downing will be a threat, presuming he plays. He has two goals and two assists to his name already this season and is leading Boro's average key passes per league game charts with two. 

The Championship side have spread the goalscoring out among their forward players so far this season.

Diego Fabbrini is in top spot with four, but each of Stuani, David Nugent and Kike have three. United's defenders will have to be on their toes no matter who makes the starting XI for Karanka's side.

Chris Brunskill/Getty Images

Dominic Shaw of the Middlesbrough Evening Gazette suggests Stuani's injury could lead to an opportunity for Kike.

He wrote: 

"

After starting the season impressively, Kike has struggled in recent weeks. He was totally ineffective at Reading and has started on the bench for the three games since then, getting a few minutes here and there to try and impress.

He puts a shift in, holds up the ball well, his link-up play is good—but Kike must start scoring more goals.

The next five weeks will be absolutely pivotal for Kike. He must perform when the chances come his way.

"

This may be the first opportunity Kike, 25, has to show how he can be an important player for Karanka's side in the months ahead.

Key Battle

With Boro's side so uncertain, the specifics of the key battle are hard to nail down. However, if the pattern of play is typical for sides visiting Old Trafford, it will be down to United's strike force to do a better job than they managed against Manchester City. 

The quality of opposition will presumably be less taxing, but an impressive attacking performance—especially if Van Gaal picks some youngsters—could give the manager some intriguing selection headaches given the recent under-performance of Rooney.

Odds

Manchester United Win: 4/9

Draw: 41/10

Middlesbrough Win: 38/5

Odds for the game correct at the time of writing, per Oddschecker.

All advanced statistics per WhoScored.com.