Manchester United have got the fear factor back in their attack as they look to book their place in the Champions League 's knockout stage.
The Old Trafford giants ’ attacking options have been boosted by the returns from injury at the weekend of iconic striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic and their club-record £89million midfielder Paul Pogba .
And with £75m striker Romelu Lukaku, England sensation Marcus Rashford and fleet-footed forward Anthony Martial, Jose Mourinho has a formidable forward line at his disposal.
Defender Chris Smalling, who sees United’s forwards every day in training, says they are up there with Europe’s very best, particularly with Ibrahimovic and Pogba back in their ranks.
“It would strike fear into me if I was playing against them, and I think it strikes fear into most teams,” said Smalling.
“The fact we’ve got Paul back, who’s a very attacking midfielder, and Ibra, with all those other names, gives us so many options.
“No matter what the game or the competition is, we’ve got a front three or four who are going to cause opponents so much trouble. If we keep it tight at the back, more often than not we’re going to win the game.”
United have won all four of their Group A games and need only a point here in Switzerland on Wednesday to seal their place in the last 16 as group winners.
Smalling and David de Gea are the only survivors in this week's travelling squad from the side that lost 2-1 away to Basel in December 2011 to be knocked out in the competition's group stage.
“It was a tough time,” recalled the England international. “You forget how long ago it was and how long I’ve been here.
“The fans here [in Basel] are very much on top of you, very close. But their team’s mentality has got to change, they have to come and attack more than at Old Trafford and so we’ve got more of a chance to score more goals than at home.”
The pitch at St Jakob Park has been relaid after it cut up badly in the World Cup play-off encounter between Switzerland and Northern Ireland last Sunday.
The state of the surface may make Mourinho think twice about starting Pogba, who played an hour in Saturday’s 4-1 win over Newcastle. Ibrahimovic will definitely start the evening on the bench.
“The pitch looks okay, but let’s see after 20 minutes of the match,” said the Portuguese.
“But I respect the effort of trying to make it a positive pitch, after being so bad in the play-offs for the national team. Last season we had to cope with the pitch in Rostov, and I don’t think it’s comparable, so hopefully everything goes well.
“Zlatan goes on the bench. He normally plays, because he needs to play and because he’s useful for us.
“If we’re in a winning position, like we were against Newcastle, we need him on the pitch. He drops into areas where he gives stability to the team. If the team isn’t winning, his presence on the pitch will be important, more positive, more aggressive to play with Romelu Lukaku.
“So normally he’s going to play and it will be a little bit more comfortable for him to play, so instead of 15 minutes, maybe 25.”
United left behind Juan Mata, Antonio Valencia and Ashley Young, as well as the injured trio of Phil Jones, Eric Bailly and Michael Carrick.
PROBABLE TEAMS
BASEL Vaclik; Akanji, Suchy, Balanta; Lang, Serey Die, Zuffi, Petretta; Steffen, Oberlin, Elyounoussi
MANCHESTER UNITED De Gea, Darmian, Smalling, Lindelof, Blind; Fellaini, Herrera; Lingard, Mkhitaryan, Martial; Lukaku.