Manchester United face Nottingham Forest in the first leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final on Wednesday evening with the Red Devils eyeing their first piece of silverware since 2017

Manchester United face Nottingham Forest in the first leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final on Wednesday evening with the Red Devils eyeing their first piece of silverware since 2017.

Trophies have been hard to come by for United since Sir Alex Ferguson departed Old Trafford, with their last success coming in 2017, where the Red Devils won the Europa League and the Carabao Cup.

United, who had won nine in a row before their draw at Crystal Palace and defeat at Arsenal in the Premier League, overcame Charlton at Old Trafford in the Carabao Cup quarter-finals to set up the Forest showdown in the final four.

Forest’s fortunes have turned around recently, with Steve Cooper’s men going unbeaten in their last four Premier League games (two wins, two draws).

They’ve moved up to 13th in the league as a result and they will be hoping of causing an upset across the two legs against United.

RadioTimes.com brings you our predictions and team news for Nottingham Forest v Manchester United.

Nottingham Forest predicted line-up: Hennessey; Aurier, Worrall, Boly, Lodi; Mangala, Danilo, Freuler; Lingard, Gibbs-White, Johnson.

Manchester United predicted line-up: De Gea; Wan-Bissaka, Varane, Martinez, Malacia; Casemiro, Eriksen; Antony, Fernandes, Rashford; Weghorst.

Nottingham Forest v Manchester United prediction

While Forest’s form has picked up recently, United will likely have too much for Steve Cooper’s men.

It could be a close game given what’s at stake but United should edge out Forest at the City Ground.

Our prediction: Nottingham Forest 0-1 Manchester United (6/1 at bet365)

In working partnership with RadioTimes.com, bet365 has provided the following betting odds for this event:

Nottingham Forest (19/4) Draw (3/1) Manchester United (3/5)*

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Manchester United are focusing on extending contracts and preparing for the summer transfer window in the final week of January. Marcus Rashford is just one of a few United players whose futures at Old Trafford are up in the air ahead of entering the final 12 months of their contracts.

The 25-year-old has struck the strongest patch of form of his career under Erik ten Hag this season, scoring nine goals in as many games since the World Cup. So concern is growing over whether he will extend terms at United with Paris Saint-Germain among clubs sniffing around him.

Ten Hag has also made an honest admission about another of his forwards, Antony, after a polarising start to life at the Red Devils. The Brazilian winger has underwhelmed many after his £88million arrival, and his manager has addressed the criticism.

As United prepare for the summer transfer window, Harry Kane has returned to the forefront of links as Ten Hag targets a new striker as a priority. And the Tottenham Hotspur superstar has provided a fresh hint on where his future lies amid the club’s tumultuous season.

Man Utd staff believe Erik ten Hag has his own Jack Grealish in the form of Brazilian winger Antony.

That is because they believe the summer signing from Ajax could take up to a year to fully settle into life at Old Trafford.

Man City star Grealish has gone on record as saying that he expected to take at least 12 months to find his feet under Pep Guardiola.

The same could be said for Antony…

Erik ten Hag is yet to decide whether Facundo Pellistri and Anthony Elanga will be allowed to leave on loan, according to the Daily Mail.

Both players want to leave in search of more game time.

But with a slightly small squad, Ten Hag is reticent to allowing the pair to leave.

The situation could change before deadline day.

David Raya has rejected a new contract with Brentford amid links with Man Utd and Chelsea, according to Spanish publication Relevo.

The Bees are now likely to sell the goalkeeper in the summer when his deal will have just 12 months to run.

United had targeted Raya, 27, as a back-up and potential long-term successor to follow Spaniard David De Gea.

Man Utd could get a bargain summer deal with Marcus Thuram reportedly running down his Borussia Monchengladbach contract.

The Red Devils have been linked with the France attacker alongside Chelsea and Arsenal.

Foot Mercato report that Thuram – who has six months remaining on his deal – has no plans to extend his contract.

He had been linked with a January transfer to the Premier League but has decided to remain so that he can explore his options as a free agent in the summer.

Jadon Sancho will not be available for Man Utd’s EFL Cup clash with Nottingham Forest.

The exiled winger has not returned to first-team training after several months of improving on his own under a special plan devised by Erik ten Hag.

But the Dutchman has confirmed that Sancho is not yet ready to play, along with Axel Tuanzebe.

“Yes but, for them, comes the same [message]. They are not available yet for games but they are progressing,” the United boss said.

Erik ten Hag has urged Man Utd to end their trophy drought.

The Red Devils can reach the first cup final of the Dutchman’s short tenure by winning their two-legged EFL Cup semi-final against Nottingham Forest.

Ten Hag said: “I’ve said it before that it is too long that this club didn’t win a trophy and it belongs to this club to win trophies so we have to get back on track,” he said.

“It is the best feeling you can have, winning a trophy and I have the luck in my career to win some trophies. It’s magnificent, especially for the fans. I think the fans here have some experience, especially the older ones, but this period when Manchester United win trophies is too long ago.”

United have not won a trophy since they lifted the 2016-17 Europa League.

They travel to Forest for the first leg of their semi-final tonight.

Harry Kane has dropped the clearest hint on his future after admitting his biggest desire is to win trophies with Tottenham.

Kane – whose contract ends in the summer of 2024 – has been linked with Man Utd.

But it seems he wants to remain at Spurs.

He said: “Of course, I still want to win trophies for Tottenham Hotspur. That’s been my goal since I started playing first team football with them. It hasn’t happened.

“I’ve been open about [how I feel about] that but I’ll continue to try to achieve that. We have a really good squad, a fantastic manager and there’s no reason why we still can’t be successful this season.”

Erik ten Hag has admitted Antony can ‘do better’ at Manchester United but believes his side perform better with him on the pitch.

Antony has received criticism after his £88m arrival from Ajax in the summer, but Ten Hag claims the best is yet to come.

He said: “He can do better, but I see space for improvement. We want him to be more direct, but the team is performing better if he is on the pitch, and that is a good thing.

“He has had an impact, but with his capabilities, his talents, he can do even more.”

Erik ten Hag has told Marcus Rashford that Manchester United is the best club for him as he weighs up a new contract.

Rashford is entering the final 17 months of his current deal amid interest from PSG and elsewhere in Europe.

And Ten Hag has stressed that United need the 25-year-old…

He said: “Talks between clubs and players are confidential. I think he understands Manchester United is his club.

“But in this environment and this team, I think he is playing his best football. He is improving, and that is about him because he is working on the good things and he gives 100 per cent energy, and he has a good plan.

“In this team, he can bring in his qualities. This team can help him be in the right positions to score goals.

“This team is constructed so that his qualities come in front, so I think he knows that he is important for us, and if we want to get the success we want, we need him.”

Manchester United face Nottingham Forest in the first leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final on Wednesday evening with the Red Devils eyeing their first piece of silverware since 2017

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