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Published Sep 12, 2026, 2:41 PM GMT+1
Ben is an experienced sports journalist and senior editor at Football FanCast, specialising in transfer reporting, Premier League coverage and football analysis. He graduated with a Master's degree in Sports Journalism in 2017.
Ben has written for publications including the Liverpool Echo and the Lincolnshire Echo. Throughout his career, he has covered a range of sports, from American football to mixed martial arts, but his primary passion has always been football journalism.
Since joining Football FanCast in 2018, initially as a freelance writer covering clubs across the English football pyramid, Ben has established himself as one of the publication's leading transfer reporters. His expertise lies in assessing the credibility of transfer stories, analysing what they mean for clubs and supporters, and providing context behind football's biggest talking points. Along the way, he has built an extensive network of trusted sources across the football industry that strengthens both his reporting and editorial insight.
Today, Ben leads Football FanCast's news team as Senior Editor, overseeing the publication's football coverage while helping shape its editorial standards, transfer reporting and analysis.
Manchester United have been dealt a late fitness concern ahead of the first Manchester derby of the season.
Michael Carrick's side were all business in the Champions League on Thursday as they swept Azerbaijani side Sabah FK aside, marking the second consecutive home fixture in which the Red Devils have scored four or more.
Action Images via Reuters/Lee SmithThe manager was delighted with his side's performance and in particular the "different threats" provided by Matheus Cunha and Benjamin Sesko, who were both on the scoresheet.
It's a serious change from the form and confidence with which the club entered their last clash against City, fresh off the sacking of Ruben Amorim having failed to win any of their previous four matches in all competitions.
Manchester United's win over City in January meant they avoided failing to score in three consecutive home league games against their rivals for the first time since September 1914 (four).
Carrick reflected on that match when discussing his long-term future this week: "I think I said it pretty early on, all decisions we made were as if we were going to be here for a period of time, I didn't how long that was going to be, I still don't.
"We were planning for the future and what we wanted it to look like and that was from day one. The performance the lads gave in that City game was incredible with all that. From the start, it was planning to where we want to get this club to in the long term".
The manager's strategy has started with overhauling the midfield, but it's fair to say defensive frailties have been the biggest talking point so far this season.
|
Hull 2-0 Man Utd (L) |
A chastening opener away at newly-promoted Hull |
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Man Utd 5-2 Ipswich (W) |
New-look side clicked into gear with a five-goal romp |
|
Everton 2-2 Man Utd (D) |
Stunning late goal took shine off progress |
|
Man Utd 4-0 Sabah FK (W) |
Ruthless win to kickstart Champions League campaign |
And he could be hit with another blow to his defensive ranks to take on City, with Luke Shaw facing a race against time to be fit after missing the midweek action.
REUTERS/Scott Heppell"We'll have to see," the manager said about the left-back. "We looked after him a little bit going into tonight. He wasn't quite ready for it, 100 per cent, so we didn't risk it. But we'll see how he is over the next couple of days or so."
Shaw joins four more first-team stars on the sidelines with Matthijs de Ligt, Amad, Carlos Baleba and Manuel Ugarte all set to miss out.
Predicted Man Utd lineup vs Man City
Assuming Shaw is not risked given his extensive injury history prior to a 2025/26 campaign in which he started all 38 Premier League matches, Patrick Dorgu looks likely to get the nod on the left side of defence.
Carrick has typically used the former Lecce man further forward, but he was fantastic at full-back against Sabah, registering an assist and completing over 97 per cent of his passes while registering four tackles the other way.
Lisandro Martinez, Harry Maguire and Diogo Dalot will make up the rest of the defence after starting the game at Everton, while Kobbie Mainoo and Youri Tielemans' partnership in midfield is simply too good to break up.
Plenty were surprised to see Bruno Fernandes play all 90 minutes against Sabah but with Carrick reassuring fans that the skipper is perfectly fit and well managed, he will lead the attacking ranks with the pace of Bryan Mbeumo, Matheus Cunha and Marcus Rashford used as a threat in behind City's high line.
Predicted Man Utd XI (4-2-3-1): Lammens, Dalot, Maguire, Martinez, Dorgu, Tielemans, Mainoo, Mbeumo, Fernandes, Rashford, Cunha
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