Manchester United down to bare bones for PSG showdown

Paul Pogba and Alexis Sanchez were among 10 first-team absentees as Manchester United travelled to Paris St Germain looking to upset the odds on Wednesday night.

Already faced with a mountain to climb after losing the first leg of their Champions League last-16 clash, Pogba misses the return fixture at the Parc des Princes because of his late dismissal at Old Trafford three weeks ago.

Sanchez, meanwhile, was forced off midway through Saturday’s 3-2 victory over Southampton and was seen limping away from United’s stadium seemingly wearing strapping on his right leg.

1. Paul Pogba
2. Alexis Sanchez
3. Anthony Martial
4. Jesse Lingard
5. Juan Mata
6. Ander Herrera
7. Nemanja Matic
8. Matteo Darmian
9. Phil Jones
10. Antonio Valencia

The Chilean joins a lengthy injury list including Anthony Martial, Jesse Lingard, Juan Mata and Ander Herrera.

Nemanja Matic, Matteo Darmian, Phil Jones and Antonio Valencia have also missed recent games and were not among the 20-man squad that travelled to the French capital.

Eight members who have represented the club’s academy – Tahith Chong, James Garner, Angel Gomes, Mason Greenwood, Scott McTominay, Andreas Pereira, Marcus Rashford and Brandon Williams – have been included in the group.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is set to address the media on Tuesday afternoon on arrival at the Parc des Princes, where United will be looking to overturn a 2-0 deficit.

Unbeaten on the domestic front since the 1999 treble hero took caretaker charge in December, the only blot on the interim manager’s copybook is last month’s defeat to the perennial Ligue 1 champions.

Presnel Kimpembe and Kylian Mbappe did the damage and those away goals mean United are available at 18-1 with bookmakers to progress to the quarter-finals.