Team news: Alexis will face Arsenal

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has confirmed that Alexis Sanchez will be involved in Friday’s Emirates FA Cup fourth-round tie at Arsenal, but three other players will be missing.

Alexis has missed the last two games with an injury he sustained in the 2-0 win over Reading in the last round of the competition but he will take part against his former club, on what will be his first return to the Emirates Stadium since leaving the Gunners a year ago this week.

“He’ll be involved,” said Ole in his exclusive interview with MUTV before Friday’s press conference. “I think he’ll love it if the crowd turn against him. As a player, pride kicks in and you think ‘I’ll show all of you’. He’s been fantastic in training, his attitude has been spot on so hopefully he’ll enjoy the game.”

Marouane Fellaini, Chris Smalling and Marcos Rojo were all absent for last weekend’s 2-1 victory over Brighton & Hove Albion at Old Trafford – and Solskjaer has ruled the trio out again for tomorrow’s big game.

When asked by Stewart Gardner if anything had changed on the injury front from last week, Ole said: “No, it’s still those three. Smalling has started training so hopefully he’ll be available maybe next week so it’s looking good for him. Fellaini and Rojo are still a bit away.”

The Reds beat Championship side Reading 2-0 in round three but, although Solskjaer accepts that the Gunners pose a considerably bigger challenge, our caretaker manager says he will still freshen up his team for the crunch clash in north London.

“Two different scenarios of course, yes, but we have a very good and talented squad,” Ole explained. “There are players there that need to play and have the quality to play. There will be one or two changes definitely.”

Gunners boss Unai Emery is set to be without four players, including two former Reds, for the big match at the Emirates Stadium on Friday night.

Ex-United striker Danny Welbeck is a long-term absentee with an ankle injury, while Henrikh Mkhitaryan is expected to return to full training next week after suffering a fractured metatarsal.

Defenders Rob Holding and Hector Bellerin are also sidelined for the foreseeable future with anterior cruciate ligament knee injuries.