Man Utd have secret weapon to hurt Jose Mourinho as Erik ten Hag replaces Bruno Fernandes

faces a rare team selection dilemma in clash against Fenerbahce this evening. United have travelled to Istanbul without their captain after receiving his first red card at the club against FC Porto earlier in the month.

Fernandes was sent off during the Red Devils' 3-3 draw in Porto last time out in Europe days after seeing red - rescinded for wrongful dismissal after the match - against .

The 30-year-old has rarely been absent through suspension or injury since his £47million move to from Sporting in January 2020.

But Ten Hag must conjure a plan to fill his Fernandes-shaped void while the Portuguese maestro is watching from Manchester tonight.

Christian Eriksen is the obvious candidate, with Manuel Ugarte earning a rare start alongside Casemiro in the visitors' midfield double pivot.

Ten Hag could catch Jose Mourinho by surprise, though, with a more attacking approach at the Sukru Saracoglu Stadium.

United supporters have habitually vented their frustrations about the recent lack of Amad Diallo after a string of promising performances at the end of last term and during pre-season.

The 22-year-old winger has registered one goal and one assist in 10 appearances - seven of them starts - this campaign.

However, Alejandro Garnacho and Marcus Rashford are ahead of him in Ten Hag's wing pecking order, joining Rasmus Hojlund in his first-choice front three.

Garnacho has scored five goals and provided a further three assists, while Rashford has four goals and three assists to his name.

The duo's electric display with Hojlund in Saturday's 2-1 win against Brentford established their starting status, leaving Amad's uncertain.

But Fernandes' one-game absence offers Ten Hag the perfect opportunity to experiment with the talented Ivorian.

His speed on the turn, touch-tight dribbling ability and link-up play have sparked calls to utilise Amad as an attacking midfielder across the Old Trafford terraces.

He has already operated in the position 14 times during his young career at Atalanta, Rangers and Sunderland. It could be time for United to give him a go.

Another option could be Joshua Zirkzee. After netting a late winner off the bench on his debut against Fulham in August, the 23-year-old has failed to score in his following 10 appearances.

Hojlund's return from injury has condemned him to a substitute role. But while Zirkzee has endured woes in front of goal, he has wowed viewers with his deceptive technical quality on the ball.

His control, dribbling traits and strength to hold off defenders and bring fellow attackers into play have also prompted questions over whether he could fit 'in the hole'.

Either Zirkzee or Amad could do the job should Ten Hag want at least one midfielder on his bench in Istanbul.