Erik ten Hag explains team selection vs Brentford as Wout Weghorst is dropped

Manchester United's Dutch manager Erik ten Hag (L) gestures to Manchester United's Dutch striker Wout Weghorst (R) as he is substituted off during the English Premier League football match between Manchester United and Southampton at Old Trafford in Manchester, north-west England, on March 12, 2023. (Photo by Darren Staples / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo by DARREN STAPLES/AFP via Getty Images)

Manchester United need to get back to winning ways in the Premier League after failing to win any of the three previous matches against Liverpool, Southampton and Newcastle.

The Reds will be welcoming high-flying Brentford to Old Trafford this evening as Thomas Frank eyes an unprecedented double over United, having infamously won the first meeting between the two sides in August last year.

The inquest into United’s drab performance against Newcastle seems to have resulted in a couple of players dropping to the bench, with Wout Weghorst among those to be left out tonight.

The forward, who is expected to return to Burnley at the end of his season-long loan, had started all 19 games since he joined the club in January.

Speaking ahead of kick-off, Ten Hag explained his team selection and offered some insight into his thinking behind bringing Jadon Sancho back, who has endured a challenging second season.

“Jadon is in good progress,” Ten Hag told the BBC, via the official Manchester United website.

“He is creative and I think that is what we need. They can defend in the low block, really compact in that block, so we need players who can create something with the dribbles, with movements, with moments of thinking outside the box.

“So Jadon can do it [but also] Antony dos Santos, Marcus and Marcel Sabitzer as well.”

Victory over Brentford would see United move back into the top four, having dropped out of the Champions League places for the first time in 2023 earlier this week.

Tottenham are level on points with United but leapfrogged the Reds following their 1-1 draw with Everton as they have a greater goal difference. United also have two games in hand on the London club.

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