Erik explains team to face Brentford

The boss has only made one change to the XI beaten 2-0 at Newcastle United on Sunday, with Jadon Sancho drafted in to replace Wout Weghorst, ending the Netherlands international's run of starting every game since joining on loan from Burnley. It means a reshuffle in the forward line, with several possibilities, although the most straightforward would appear to be Sancho starting on the left wing and top scorer Marcus Rashford leading the line.

Bruno Fernandes's flexibility means he could operate on the right or even as a 'false nine' if Ten Hag decides to try something a little different.

The manager feels he needs a lot of creativity in his line-up, in order to break down the stubborn Brentford defence, with Bees boss Thomas Frank fielding three centre-halves.

"Jadon is in good progress," Erik told the BBC. "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."

In an interview with MUTV, the message was the same, when explaining the change. "Creativity," he answered. "Jadon is showing good progress since he came back and you know he can play the final pass.

"He can have an action one-on-one and he can run behind and score a goal. That is the reason why."

THE TEAMS

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

Substitutes: Butland, Lindelof, Maguire, Malacia, Wan-Bissaka, Fred, Martial, Pellistri, Weghorst.