Rafa Benitez has been given a potential selection headache ahead of this weekend’s fixture against Cardiff City.
That headache is the choice between Serbian international Aleksandar Mitrovic and the Sky Bet Championship top scorer Dwight Gayle – if fit.
Mitrovic seamlessly stepped in for the injured Gayle at Deepdale – scoring a Brace against Preston for the second time in four days.
When both are fit, Gayle has undoubtedly been first choice for Benitez – Starting in every league game he has been available for, with the exception of the 6-0 victory at QPR.
But why not start Gayle and Mitrovic together?
Gayle and Mitrovic have only been paired together when United have been trailing – against Wolves and Norwich. Playing the duo together didn’t produce much against Wolves, but against the Canaries the pair turned the game on its head.
While Gayle may be a first choice for Benitez, the form of Mitrovic may leave Rafa with no option but to start him.
The main issue with this would mean an inevitable change in formation.
So far Benitez has stuck to 4-2-3-1, usually with Ayoze Perez or Mo Diame playing behind the main man.
Perez found success in that role against Ipswich, but no one has yet made it their own.
To change formation would result in a massive change in the dynamics of what has been very successful so far this season.
Benitez could well see it as an unnecessary risk to change a winning formula – he probably will, but Mitrovic has without question proven his abilities as the main man and would feel hard done to should he be back on the bench against Cardiff.
If Benitez was to change then struggling Cardiff, at home would be the perfect opportunity to see if a front two can work. Don’t bet on it though.
