United are entering the Carabao Cup at an earlier stage because they failed to qualify for European football last season. The Reds have been drawn against Grimsby away and the two clubs last met in 1948.
Grimsby have made a strong start to their campaign in League Two, winning three and drawing two to sit fourth in the table. United are heavy favourites to win at Blundell Park. Here is how our writers think United should line up.
There have to be wholesale changes tonight. Everyone on the bench at Fulham should start. An area where it feels United will need a senior addition next year is the left wing as they have three raw options there and one of them, Harry Amass, has not been training with the first team.
Grimsby away would be an interesting test for the teenage Paraguayan Diego Leon after Patrick Dorgu underperformed again at Fulham.
Sesko has to make his first start and Joshua Zirkzee needs minutes to make him a viable option to come on in league games. Amad would offer some continuity in attack and he is arguably more effective as one of the two 10s.
Bayindir gives you a heart attack when the opposition win a corner. Onana must be recalled to the team, with a view to him to starting against Burnley in the Premier League before the international break.
Mainoo has been an unused substitute in both matches and should start with Ugarte. Amad is the only player who shouldn’t be rotated after Fulham, but he should be moved into the right No.10 role and it makes sense for Zirkzee to flank him on the opposite side.
This is a perfect opportunity for Sesko to get firing and he should make his full debut.
Amorim should use this as an opportunity to rotate his pack, but still field a team strong enough to get the job done. Onana must start between the posts after playing no part in the opening two Premier League fixtures.
Harry Maguire should also bag his first start of the season after starting the first two league games on the bench and start in the middle of the defence.
Leon is worthy of a competitive debut on the left, replacing Dorgu, and Diogo Dalot should return to the starting line-up at right wing-back. Mainoo and Ugarte have more than enough about them to control midfield proceedings.
