Erik ten Hag could finally start Manchester United's strongest XI soon

Two in and two out? Christian Eriksen and Casemiro may be on the Old Trafford pitch to observe the Europa League anthem on Thursday evening but it is unlikely Luke Shaw and Marcus Rashford will be.

It would have been remarkably good fortune had Manchester United entered this week with one significant injury to contend with (that's Alejandro Garnacho, not Donny van de Beek). Rashford's apparent groin strain in attempting to trap Eriksen's lofted pass is a potential sliding doors moment. Rashford's 28 goals account for 32.5% of the 86 United have scored this term.

Ten Hag considered removing Rashford with United only 1-0 up against Everton. That would have been a risk as United converted one of their 21 attempts at goal in the first half alone. When Anthony Martial tapped in the contest killer, perhaps Rashford's number should have been up.

Also read: United's game in hand could face further delay

"I had that consideration but in that moment, you want also Anthony Martial, just coming back, you want to bring them back into routines and togetherness," Ten Hag explained. "Because when they are together we have two goalscoring players, clinical players, who can finish games and that's what we need in the final stage of the season to be successful. That's the reason why we kept them on.

"Also, there was no indication, when there was an indication in the last days or this game, then of course I would have taken him off."

United have not scored four goals in a single Premier League fixture all season, so Ten Hag has been seldom able to give players a breather. They have won away from home by a three-goal margin on only one occasion and five of their six away wins have been by a goal.

Ten Hag is still partially culpable. Only