Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has suggested Marcus Rashford, Anthony Martial and Jadon Sancho could be used from the bench against Nottingham Forest.
United welcome Forest to Old Trafford in the second leg of the League Cup semi-final on Wednesday night after winning the reverse clash 3-0 at the City Ground last week, with goals from Marcus Rashord, Wout Weghorst and Bruno Fernandes.
Although the three-goal advantage has ensured that United are heavy favourites to progress to the final at Wembley, Ten Hag has opted to pick a strong team regardless, which includes Raphael Varane and Lisandro Martinez in the centre of defence.
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Ten Hag has also named Casemiro, Fred and Fernandes in his midfield, with Antony, Alejandro Garnacho and Wout Weghorst in the attack.
The team selection has surprised supporters, who were expecting a significantly changed line-up for the match, and Ten Hag spoke to MUTV ahead of kick-off at Old Trafford to explain why he felt naming such a strong side was necessary.
"All the games, you can ask me every time the same question [about picking a strong team], but we have to win games," Ten Hag said. "We have to keep the progress going, keep the momentum, we have to win this game and make new steps.
"I think he [Rashford] is in a good run and hopefully he can come on. I think also that's important for the week, to keep the fitness levels and keep the mental state, but Luke [Shaw] was ill, now he's fit and he's back in the team, which is good news.
"So, Rapha [Varane] is back, which is also good and Fred is in the team, Tom Heaton is in the team so have some rotation, but we also want to keep routines. This is the first step [for Martial and Sancho], they are back in the matchday squad.
"They are now making further steps and hopefully we can bring them on today."
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