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As reported by Sky Sports, Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has confirmed Jesse Lingard and Anthony Martial will be out of action for two to three weeks, meaning they will miss the FA Cup clash with Chelsea on Monday night and next weekend's Northwest Derby.

It's a massive blow for the Red Devils with both players featuring prominently during Solskjaer's interim spell in charge, but could there be some unforeseen benefits to their absences? Football FanCast look at the potential consequences of the injury news below...

Game-plan set for Liverpool clash

Romelu Lukaku proved a revelation on the right wing in the last round, providing two beautiful assists against Arsenal, and while the same ploy didn't quite work in the following game versus Burnley when he was subbed off after 67 minutes, we could see Solskjaer use the Belgium international in that capacity once again on Monday night.

Pl>ymaker FC's Theo Ogden was at the Emirates on Friday to see Alexis Sanchez come back to haunt Arsenal. Check out Gunners' fans reactions in the video below...

After all, Solskjaer's options on the right flank are pretty limited and redeploying Lukaku there makes far more sense in the big games, where he'll be given the space on the counter-attack to sneak behind full-backs that push up the field. Much like Sead Kolasinac, Marcos Alonso certainly falls into that category as Eden Hazard's serial overlapper.

And should the same trick work twice against a big six opponent, the chances are that Solskjaer will feel compelled to use it once again next weekend when Liverpool come to Old Trafford.

Tahith Chong gets his chance

There's plenty of hype surrounding United youngster Tahith Chong and after Solskjaer alluded to game-time for young players in his pre-match press conference, there's every chance the 19-year-old will play some role on Monday night - although a starting berth seems unlikely.

Should Solskjaer opt to start Lukaku on the right wing, the fellow left-footer represents a viable Plan B or simply a respite option late on, as another player who can cut inside and shoot.

Chong featured against Reading in the FA Cup's Third Round and with an abundance of caps for the Netherlands at youth level, a game against high-quality opposition with slightly less pressure than a Premier League clash feels like a good opportunity to further bed him in.

Alexis Sanchez in last-chance saloon

Alexis Sanchez looks pretty certain to replace Martial on the left wing, but it's clear Solskjaer's running out of patience with the former Arsenal man, telling reports there's nothing he can do about his staggering downturn in form over the last 12 months.

It already fells like the end is nigh for Sanchez, regardless of who is in charge at Old Trafford next season, but Martial's absence gives him an invaluable opportunity to try and reverse the tide with a goal or an assist. That will bring back some much-needed confidence too.

Of course, playing well against Chelsea doesn't guarantee anything - but a substandard performance will serve as another nail in the coffin.