Gary Neville names Man United’s ‘best XI’ for the derby against Man City – and includes one of three players ‘they were banking on selling’ this summer

Gary Neville has offered Michael Carrick selection advice ahead of Manchester United’s derby clash with Manchester City, naming the Red Devils’ ‘best XI’ for the Old Trafford contest.

United host their arch rivals on Sunday at 4.30pm, with Carrick looking to get one over their neighbours again having masterminded a 2-0 win over Pep Guardiola’s side in January this year.

Enzo Maresca is now in the dugout for the visitors who boast a perfect record after three Premier League matches, sitting top of the table alongside reigning champions Arsenal. 

United meanwhile. have endured a bumpy start to the league campaign – dropping points against newly-promoted Hull City as well as Everton thus far.

And club legend Neville has given his view on how Carrick should line up for the mouthwatering contest this weekend, including Marcus Rashford in his starting team – a player he insists the club were ‘banking on selling’ this summer.

‘Senne Lammens, Diogo Dalot, Luke Shaw, Harry Maguire, Lisandro Martínez, Youri Tielemans and Kobbie Mainoo, and then the front four of Marcus Rashford, Bryan Mbeumo, Matheus Cunha and Bruno Fernandes. To me, that is Manchester United’s best eleven,’ he said on Big Game Preview, sponsored by Sky Bet. 

‘Manchester United banked on sales that never materialised in the transfer market. It is a big point on the selling side, because they wouldn’t have expected Marcus Rashford to be back, and Manuel Ugarte got injured. 

‘They would have expected Joshua Zirkzee to leave for maybe 10, 15 or 20 million pounds, so they were banking on bringing in that 50, 60 million [pounds], and they didn’t bring any of that money in.’

Neville also singled out a key personnel decision Carrick will face when new £70million signing Carlos Baleba returns to fitness. 

‘The only thing I can see happening eventually is that we’ll have to drop one of that front four and play three in midfield,’ he said. 

‘Maybe Youri Tielemans, Carlos Beleba and Kobbie Mainoo, adding an extra midfield player. That means sometimes Bruno has to go to the side, which isn’t ideal because I think he’s better in that number ten spot. 

‘But how do we [Manchester United], without changing shape, become more solid so we don’t concede every single game? Because if we carry on conceding like this, we won’t be in the Champions League. We have to stop conceding goals.’