Erik ten Hag explains Anthony Martial decision as Alvaro Fernandez set Manchester United challenge

Erik ten Hag is confident Manchester United's fringe players will be able to take advantage of their opportunity when they face Nottingham Forest in the Premier League today.

United are looking to bounce back from last week's defeat to Tottenham when they host Forest at Old Trafford in their second home match of the new season.

Ten Hag is hoping for an emphatic response from his side in the match, but they will have to do so without injured duo Luke Shaw and Mason Mount.

The double injury blow leaves United short of senior squad options, and they have made three changes to the side that lost against Tottenham a week ago, with Shaw, Mount, and Alejandro Garnacho replaced by Diogo Dalot, Christian Eriksen, and Anthony Martial.

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Asked if Martial was ready to start his first match in 93 days, Ten Hag told MUTV: "We built him very carefully throughout the whole pre-season. So he did a lot of work individually in the last few weeks with the team, and he is ready to play."

When asked about the decision to bring Eriksen and Dalot into the line up he added: "We are more than 11 players, and we know both can play, they will contribute, and they are also all the time they are considering for the starting XI, even if everyone is fit."

Academy duo Alvaro Fernandez and Dan Gore have both been named on the bench for the match, and Ten Hag has challenged the duo to take any chance that comes their way.

"We have seen in pre-season they can be in the team. Both very talented players, and they have to play in their potential and get everything out, go to the maximum. They have to be ready to come into the team."