Erik ten Hag explains team selection

There is only one change to the XI on duty against Newcastle United, with Marcus Rashford, who replaced Cristiano Ronaldo during the 0-0 stalemate, in for the Portugal international from the start against Spurs.

Otherwise, it is the same team, with Fred keeping his place despite Christian Eriksen being well enough to make the substitutes' bench, and Scott McTominay returning to the matchday squad after serving a one-match suspension.

"You think about games over 90 minutes, I think to start this is the best," he told Premier League Productions. "You know Tottenham are really comfortable from the back, they can really play from the back, so you need a good press. They have high intensity.

"So a quick team can match that, also we have the dynamic in front, and we know we need Cristiano at the end as well, of course we need to score if we want to win the game."

In his interview with club media, Erik added: "Marcus was ill at the weekend. He wasn't available for 90 minutes, otherwise he should have started on Sunday as well. The moment Marcus came in, we were getting more dynamic in front and that is what we need today, to break that line and also to build up this game. Also, we know we have a threat on the bench with Ronaldo to finish this game.

"Christian was ill as well at the weekend. He came back yesterday for a his first training and he doesn't feel he has the energy to go 90 minutes. So he will be on the bench as well but he can play for a couple of minutes. Hopefully, we can bring him to have an impact on the game or the better is we don't need him and the game will run good."

United: De Gea; Dalot, Varane, Martinez, Shaw; Casemiro, Fred; Antony, Fernandes (c), Sancho; Rashford.

Substitutes: Heaton; Lindelof, Malacia; Eriksen, McTominay, Pellistri; Elanga, Garnacho, Ronaldo.