Erik ten Hag explains Marcus Rashford decision for Manchester United vs Sevilla fixture

Erik ten Hag has not started Marcus Rashford and Luke Shaw for Manchester United's match against Sevilla because they're currently short of match fitness, but he's also admitted that both players could still have a role to play from the bench.

Rashford sustained a muscular injury in a win against Everton earlier this month, but he returned to first-team training at Carrington on Wednesday afternoon, which was the final session before the squad flew to Spain to take on Sevilla.

Although the forward took part in that session, he's been named on the bench at the Ramon Sanchez-Pizjuan Stadium, with Antony, Anthony Martial and Jadon Sancho retaining their positions in the starting side after the weekend.

ALSO READ: Daniel Levy addresses Harry Kane's Tottenham future

In midfield, Ten Hag has selected Casemiro, Christian Eriksen and Marcel Sabitzer to play Sevilla, while in defence, he's selected a back four of Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Victor Lindelof, Harry Maguire and Diogo Dalot, with the latter at left-back.

MUTV asked Ten Hag about his selection ahead of kick-off and he said: "Not only managing [players' fitness], you want to win, so you need a way to win, but I also know this game could be over 90 minutes or 120 minutes.

"You start with players that can do 120 minutes because we don't want to risk any more injuries. Then, we can bring them on, that is the idea. This team beat Nottingham Forest, so they are confident and full of belief.

"They have to do it. Shaw, Rashy, but also others, like Fred, we can bring them on. It's great [involved in a match like this], it's a little hostile, their fans are behind the team, so you feel the fight and that's the games you want to be in.

"I've given them the instructions on how to play.