EFL Cup: Manchester United v Hull preview

Manchester United v Hull preview

Jose Mourinho is set to recall his big names as Manchester United host Hull in the first leg of the EFL Cup semi-final.

The manager made nine changes for Saturday's FA Cup tie with Reading, but confirmed that the likes of Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Paul Pogba and Ander Herrera are expected to be in the starting XI. 

United have another huge game at the weekend on Nissan Super Sunday as they take on fierce rivals Liverpool, but Mourinho has said his side will still give everything to make the Wembley final.

"Hull face a semi-final, also a big occasion for them, and I don't know maybe for them, it's more important the match they have to play three or four days later in the Premier League [against Bournemouth]," he said.

"We play against Liverpool, a big match for us, but we want to be in the final. So we are going to face this Hull match with everything we have, all the power we have, as we know it's two legs but the second leg is away. If we can do something in the first leg that gives us the advantage, so we will try to do that."

Marco Silva will take charge of just his second Hull game after being appointed last week, and although he got his reign off to a flying start with a 2-0 FA Cup win against Swansea on Saturday, he knows that Tuesday's test will be much different. 

"It's about staying in the game [against Man Utd]. We will try to bring it here and bring it back here open and qualify from the second game. That is our focus," Silva said. 

"Tomorrow is not the best game to try and improve in but we will try because my players have a dream of playing in the final."

With other players expected to be back in the side, Wayne Rooney may have to wait to take the lead as Manchester United's leading goalscorer after he equalled Sir Bobby Robson's record against Reading at the weekend. 

Marcos Rojo is a doubt for United having come off on Saturday with a muscle problem, while fellow defender Eric Bailly is away on Ivory Coast duty at the African Nations Cup.

For Hull, they face a defensive crisis with Curtis Davies missing out on the trip to Old Trafford after picking up a hamstring injury.

Michael Dawson will have further tests on a shoulder injury before a decision is made on if he will travel, with the inclusion of Harry Maguire and Abel Hernandez also yet to be decided upon.  

Elsewhere, Alex Bruce (Achilles) has yet to feature this season, while Moses Odubajo (knee) and Ahmed Elmohamady (Africa Cup of Nations) are absent. Hull are also without strikers Will Keane (knee) and Dieumerci Mbokani (Africa Cup of Nations).