Ten Hag names team for Forest clash

The Reds are out to back up the brilliant Boxing Day victory against Aston Villa with another positive result, in what should be a tough test with new manager Nuno Espirito Santo already orchestrating a shock 3-1 away win at Newcastle United, last time out.

After a 3-2 win in the reverse fixture at Old Trafford, with United coming from two goals down to triumph, as we did against Villa, an entertaining affair could be in prospect again.

The boss makes just the one change to his XI from Tuesday, and it's an enforced alteration. Rasmus Hojlund - who scored his first Premier League goal in the comeback against Villa - misses our trip to The City Ground through illness, and is replaced by Antony.

We can guess that the aforementioned Brazilian will take the right-wing slot, with Alejandro Garnacho shifting to the left and Marcus Rashford leading the line. Antony starred in United's 2-0 Premier League win at Forest last season, scoring the opener before setting up our second goal, scored by Diogo Dalot, whom we expect will start at left-back again this evening.

Young winger Amad is one of the nine substitutes on the Reds' bench, as he is included in Ten Hag's matchday squad for the first time, having recovered from a long-term knee injury sustained in pre-season.

Forest make two changes from their 3-1 win at Newcastle United four days ago, with Ryan Yates and Nicolas Dominguez in for Ibrahim Sangare and Callum Hudson-Odoi.

Asked by Sky Sports about Hojlund's absence and how United will line up in attack, Ten Hag said: "It is [a blow] but that happens. You can't avoid it so we have to deal with it.

"Yes [Rashford will play up front]. Rashy is a good striker he is very multifunctional, he can play all the positions across the front line.

"We play him there and put Garna back on the left and Antony on the right."

United Academy graduate Anthony Elanga, who joined Forest in the summer, starts for the hosts and Erik also spoke about the Sweden international in his pre-match interview with Sky Sports.

"I'm very happy for him [Elanga]. He's doing so well and worked so hard for it," the boss added.

"So it's very good but, of course, not today. We have to avoid that. Don't let him come into his game.

"Definitely, he can be a threat but we can also beat him."

THE TEAMS 

Forest: Turner; Montiel, Niakhate, Murillo, Aina; Danilo, Dominguez, Yates (c); Elanga, Wood, Gibbs-White.

Substitutes: Vlachodimos, Boly, Tavares, Toffolo, Williams, Worrall, Kouyate, Mangala, Hudson-Odoi.

United: Onana; Wan-Bissaka, Varane, Evans, Dalot; Mainoo, Eriksen; Antony, Fernandes (c), Garnacho; Rashford.

Substitutes: Bayindir, Kambwala, Reguilon, Gore, Hannibal, McTominay, van de Beek, Amad, Pellistri.