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

Louis van Gaal takes his side to face Micky Mellon's for Shrewsbury Town vs. Manchester United in the FA Cup fifth round on Monday evening. 

Mellon, aware of the huge differential in league places between his side—who sit 21st in League One—and United, said, per BBC Sport:

"

We will give it our best go and we won't be overawed.

We will make sure that we thoroughly enjoy the game and take it all in and give the best account of ourselves that we possibly can to represent this great football town.

We've got to do certain things in a certain way to increase our chances of getting a result, so that's what we're working on and the mentality we're approaching the game with.

"

Van Gaal was far from bullish about his side after the defeat to FC Midtjylland in the UEFA Europa League on Thursday, and when asked about United having lost their fear factor, he said, per Manchester Evening News:

"

When you see the last two games it is maybe like that. But then we have to make them fear again. 

I have said already to the players because you cannot continue with losing games and the question is how we are lifting ourselves. 

Shrewsbury Town shall fight also for the second balls and play direct and that kind of thing and you have to cope with that.

"

He also made an unconvincing claim that United could win the FA Cup, saying: "We are capable to win the FA Cup because we have also won against Swansea City at home or Watford away." 

Those meagre victories are hardly worth shouting about for the United manager, but he does not have much else to hold onto. 

For the Shrews, of course, this is a huge game. Their fans will head into the tie with the sense that while they remain significant underdogs, the Red Devils have been anything but convincing this season. When teams face United, there is always a chance.

Mellon is enjoying the spotlight that comes with the big draw saying, per BT Sport "You have people stopping you to shake your hand. It's great for the fans, it's a chance to enjoy it and go and milk every moment." 

Up for grabs is a sixth-round home fixture against West Ham United, per BBC Sport.

Date: Monday, February 21, 2016

Time: 7.45 p.m. GMT/2.45 p.m. ET

Venue: Greenhous Meadow, Shrewsbury, England

TV Info: BT Sport 2 (UK only)/Fox Sports 1, Fox Deportes (U.S. only)

Live Stream: BT Sport (UK only)/Fox Soccer 2Go (U.S. only)

Form Lines

Shrewsbury Town: WLWLDW

Manchester United: LWWDLL

Team News

According to BBC Sport: "Shrewsbury's former Manchester United midfielder Larnell Cole returns to the squad after three games out with a groin injury. Manager Micky Mellon also confirmed defender Jack Grimmer will be fit."

United retain a pretty spectacular injury list. According to their website: 

"

David De Gea suffered an injury during the warm-up in Midtjylland and the goalkeeper could miss Monday’s match as a result, with Sergio Romero set to deputise again. Sam Johnstone, Marcos Rojo, Phil Jones, Luke Shaw, Antonio Valencia, Guillermo Varela, Ashley Young, Bastian Schweinsteiger, Marouane Fellaini, Adnan Januzaj and Wayne Rooney are also recovering from injuries. Donald Love, who made his senior debut in the Europa League on Thursday, is cup-tied due to his previous involvement in the competition with loan club Wigan Athletic against Bury

"

Predicted Lineups

The above is Mellon's likely Shrewsbury XI, per Stuart James of the Guardian. It is a highly defensive-minded XI, which features no place for United academy graduate Larnell Cole. Cole has been an integral part of Mellon's squad this season, starting 19 times in League One and scoring twice, per WhoScored.com. 

Expect him to feature if Mellon chooses to go for the jugular a little more than the lineup above would suggest.

With United's full-back injury situation exacerbated even further by Love being cup-tied, Paddy McNair seems as good a guess as any. 

Elsewhere, Ander Herrera did not impress on his recall to the first XI against FC Midtjylland, and that is normally a cue for Van Gaal to leave him out. He may feature in place of Morgan Schneiderlin, who seems equally as unpopular with the manager.

Tactically, Van Gaal may consider a switch to a 4-4-2, with Andreas Pereira and Jesse Lingard on opposite flanks and Memphis Depay and Anthony Martial in a front two. Alternatively, he may go with a few genuinely left-field selections, given United have the second leg of the tie with Midtjylland—a game that is now crucial—on Thursday night.

Players to Watch

Neither are in the Guardian's predicted lineup above, but Cole and Richie Wellens may well feature as either starters or substitutes. Both began their careers as United youngsters, and both will be keen to impress against their former club. 

Matthew Ashton - AMA/Getty Images

For United, all eyes will once again be on the mercurial talents of Martial as he looks to lead the line in Rooney's absence. And after his goal in Midtjylland, Memphis will be keen to take the chance to impress with a place for him having opened up in the side.

Key Battle

Shrewsbury may have conceded two in their surprise fourth-round win over Sheffield Wednesday, but they have kept five clean sheets in their last seven FA Cup matches, per Sky Sports. The battle of United's attack versus the Shrews' defence will be key. The Red Devils have got a little better at dealing with deep-lying defences of late, but as Midtjylland showed, they are vulnerable to the counter-attack.

Odds

Shrewsbury Town: 9-1

Draw: 17-4

Manchester United: 37-100

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