Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was in no doubt over his decision to select Marcus Rashford in his Manchester United starting lineup to face Granada in the Europa League quarter-final first-leg.
Solskjaer has named a strong United side away to the La Liga outfit as he pursues his first silverware as manager.
Rashford came off injured in the Premier League victory over Brighton last Sunday but has made a quick recovery and starts tonight in a triple-pronged attack with Mason Greenwood and Daniel James.
The England international is seldom rested by Solskjaer and recently pulled out of Gareth Southgate’s the March World Cup qualifiers.
Some United fans have expressed concern at Rashford being overworked but Solskjaer said before kick off that he is not worried about any injury problems and did not hesitate to start the 23-year-old.
“We’ve had a rest over the international break a few players and we felt this is a team to get us a good result to bring back to Manchester,” he told MUTV, as quoted by the MEN.
“Like Marcus is, he says he’s okay. He’s a little bit sore but he’s not worried about his injury. And there’s no doubt in my mind that I need to play him.”
Rashford will be watched intently by United fans this evening and Solskjaer has Amad and Edinson Cavani at his disposal from the bench should his fitness deteriorate.
David de Gea returns in goal after seemingly losing the number one spot to Dean Henderson.
The Spaniard could become imperative for the remainder of United’s Europa League campaign.
“[De Gea] wants to play every game but especially here in Spain. I’m sure he wants to prove he’s a top goalkeeper, which we know,” Solskjaer added.
Meanwhile, Scott McTominay lines up in the midfield axis with Paul Pogba and indispensable Harry Maguire and Aaron Wan-Bissaka are preferred to rotation options like Brandon Williams and Axel Tuanzebe.
Man Utd XI to face Granada: De Gea, Wan-Bissaka, Maguire, Lindelof, Shaw, McTominay, Pogba, Fernandes, James, Rashford, Greenwood.
READ MORE: Loads of Man Utd fans have one concern with Solskjaer’s starting XI vs Granada
