Thorpe to feature?

By Chris
August 26 2014

Buoyed by the news of Ángel Di María’s pending arrival, the Red Army make their first trip to Buckinghamshire as Louis van Gaal looks to get his first United win at the unlikely surroundings of Stadium MK.

Van Gaal is expected to make sweeping changes to his line-up for the game, with a host of younger players set to get the nod.

The former Netherlands boss is said to have been a little frustrated by United facing a second game in little over 48 hours – but the starting XI at MK is set to look very different to that which drew 1-1 at Sunderland on Sunday.

MK Dons sit seventh in League One, having picked up four points from their opening seven fixtures, and are set to play in front of their highest ever attendance at the new, impressive yet generic Stadium MK.

Warren Joyce's Under-21s have enjoyed a strong start to the season, and van Gaal could call on the services of some of the young second-string, with skipper Tom Thorpe in line to appear.

Many fans are eager to see promising teenage striker James Wilson get a chance, though the Englishman’s availability is unclear, having missed United’s two most recent Under-21 fixtures.

Amid speculation of Anders Lindegaard's future, Ben Amos will be hoping for an opportunity between the sticks, whilst Adnan Januzaj and Shinji Kagawa could get the chance to stake their claim.

The game marks United’s first involvement in the League Cup’s second round for nearly two decades. In 1995, York City staged a sensational upset, winning 3-0 at Old Trafford, and ultimately knocking the Red Devils out of the competition 4-3 on aggregate.

A lack of European football for United offers van Gaal no excuses not to seek to stage a three-fronted challenge on domestic competition this season, as the 62-year-old looks to claim his first win in charge of the club and United’s first competitive win since May 6th.