Ralf Rangnick confirms absentees for Middlesbrough clash

Manchester United interim head coach Ralf Rangnick has revealed that Edinson Cavani, Victor Lindelof, Jesse Lingard and Eric Bailly will all be absent against Middlesbrough on Friday night.

Paul Pogba is set to return for the Red Devils following a spell on the sidelines, while Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Luke Shaw and Jadon Sancho are all in line to return to the first-team squad.

However, Rangnick has confirmed that Cavani, Lindelof, Lingard and Bailly will miss out, while Mason Greenwood is unavailable for selection due to a club suspension.

"Paul will be part of the group. He might even be in the starting XI," Rangnick told reporters. "There are still a couple of players missing out. Edi Cavani will only return on the weekend.

"He contacted me a week ago and asked me if he could have two more days at home and I allowed him because I knew that he couldn't be in the starting XI anyway, with jet-lag and only coming back today or last night. So he won't be part of the group.

"Victor Lindelof has been ill the whole week and not training," added the boss. "So he will also miss tomorrow's game. The same is true with Jesse [Lingard], he asked me and the club if we could give him a couple of days off, just to clear up his mind.

"He will be back in the group I suppose next Monday, back for training, and then be a regular part of the whole squad again. Eric Bailly came back yesterday. He has some problems, a swollen ankle, and will therefore not be a part of the squad tomorrow."

Man United will be looking to make it three straight wins in all competitions when they welcome Championship side Boro to Old Trafford.