Ten Hag names Boxing Day team
Erik ten Hag has named his Manchester United side to take on Aston Villa in the Boxing Day encounter at Old Trafford.
The Reds are looking to get back on track after the disappointing pre-Christmas defeat at West Ham United, and striving to provide some cheer to the home supporters.
Ten Hag hoped Raphael Varane would be well enough to return to the heart of the defence, and the Frenchman partners Jonny Evans, with Diogo Dalot back from his ban and likely to play at left-back.
Kobbie Mainoo makes his first league start at Old Trafford, while the attacking line-up will be interesting, with Alejandro Garnacho set to start on the right, in a tactical switch, with Marcus Rashford on the left.
Erik on his selection
Erik ten Hag explains why Luke Shaw and Sofyan Amrabat miss our clash with Aston Villa...
When asked by Amazon Prime about Rashford's return to the team, Ten Hag said: "First of all, he was [for] a period, ill but also to take into account very good performances from Garnacho. Also we have to recognise, we couldn't score and he is a scoring player. We try to find solutions, playing Garnacho on the right and Marcus coming off the left, with Hojlund in the middle and Bruno close nearby to those three strikers.
"We hope to find solutions there, [with] their creativity, speed and they have to play very direct."
Luke Shaw and Sofyan Amrabat are absent due to minor issues, as Erik makes four changes from the XI on duty at West Ham, with Christian Eriksen in from the outset after his comeback at the London Stadium.
Villa are without suspended duo Matty Cash and Boubacar Kamara but Pau Torres is fit enough to make the bench.
THE TEAMS
United: Onana; Wan-Bissaka, Varane, Evans, Dalot; Mainoo, Eriksen; Garnacho, Fernandes (c), Rashford; Hojlund.
Substitutes: Bayindir, Kambwala, Reguilon, Gore, Hannibal, McTominay, van de Beek, Antony, Pellistri.
Aston Villa: Martinez; Konsa, Carlos, Lenglet, Digne; Dendoncker, Luiz, McGinn (c), Ramsey; Bailey, Watkins.
Substitutes: Marschall, Proctor, Chambers, Moreno, Torres, Iroegbunam, Diaby, Duran, Zaniolo.