Manchester United were handed yet another blow ahead of their crucial clash with fierce rivals Liverpool this weekend as Marouane Fellaini is set for a few weeks on the side-line through injury.

The Belgian cult hero picked up the knock on international duty with Belgium, lasting less than 30 minutes against Bosnia-Herzegovina, and he’ll join midfield counterpart Paul Pogba on the Old Trafford treatment table.

It is hardly the ideal preparation for Jose Mourinho heading into their first real test of the season at Anfield, as United look to continue their rampant form and keep the pace with their old foes Manchester City.

However, with two main midfielders ruled out of contention – no doubt causing a few Draft Fantasy players a headache just days before the Premier League returns – who are United’s other options?

Ander Herrera

The obvious like-for-like replacement and a man that will almost certainly feature at Anfield on Saturday is Spanish midfielder Ander Herrera, who has revived his career since Mourinho’s arrival.

Whilst he may not have featured too often this season, making just the one start, his overall importance to this United side can’t be understated and he will have the box-to-box burden of keeping tabs on Liverpool’s deadly attacking quartet whilst still being expected to create opportunities.

The 28-year-old is an incredibly tenacious midfield battler, highlighted in his man-marking job of Eden Hazard last season, and there is certainly scope for points if you have the Kante Rule in play.

Last season he made an average of three interceptions and two clearances per match, and it will be him and Nemanja Matic that are responsible for cutting out Liverpool’s inevitable counter-attacks.

Add to this the fact that he found the net once last season and earned six assists and there is also a possibility for points-scoring in an attacking sense, particularly with United currently scoring for fun.

Michael Carrick

An outside bet for a starting berth at the weekend is Manchester United stalwart – and new club captain – Michael Carrick, who could be in line for his first appearance of the year against Liverpool.

After having his contract extended for another year and being awarded the captaincy role, the signing of Nemanja Matic from Chelsea has provided a blow for his prospects of regular first-team football.

However, should Mourinho decide to set his side up more defensively away from home, utilising two defensive-minded players in his midfield three rather than two attack-minded ones, then Carrick could be in-line to feature for the first time and partner Matic in the heart of the United midfield line.

It is almost certain that he would do a good job of sitting deep and protecting his defensive line, on average making three interceptions per match last season and cutting out the opposition attacks efficiently.

The 36-year-old is currently recovering from an injury himself, though, and it is highly unlikely the Portuguese tactician would risk bringing him back in such a pivotal encounter at the top of the table.

Henrikh Mkhitaryan

Listed as a midfielder in the Draft Fantasy game, there are not many players in the top-flight that have made such an impressive start to the new Premier League season as Henrikh Mkhitaryan has.

He was something of a Europa League specialist last season, only scoring four times and earning a single assist in 24 domestic matches, but he’s started to show his peak form from his time at Borussia Dortmund.

It’s all down to being utilised in a more central role by Mourinho this year – rather than more as a winger – and he’s thrived with the extra space and freedom, already getting five assists and a goal.

And up against a notoriously weak Liverpool defence he could have a field day exploiting the vast gaps in their back-line, looking to find the telling ball for the runs of Marcus Rashford and Romelu Lukaku.

Only Kevin de Bruyne (24) and David Silva (23) have created more chances than Mkhitaryan (22) in the Premier League season so far this season, with the statistics reflecting his contribution on the pitch for United, and he will go into Saturday full of confidence after finding the net for Armenia at the weekend.

The only problem with Mkhitaryan is that, being the highest-scoring midfielder on Draft Fantasy at present, with 54 points, there is a slim chance that he will be unselected heading into Saturday’s clash.

But if he is not selected, you’d be foolish not to go for the top-flight’s in-form man.