Manchester United could play their first-choice front three for only the fourth time vs Everton

Does Martial start?

Most would consider Marcus Rashford, Anthony Martial and Antony to be Erik ten Hag's favoured front three yet they have only started together three times. Coincidentally, two of those games were against Everton.

Martial did not even see out the first half at Goodison Park in October but played in Antony to equalise. Martial has been training with teammates for four weeks but, as of Wednesday night, was still not deemed "game-fit" to start by Ten Hag.

Everton are Martial's whipping boys. He has struck seven goals in 15 games against them.

Read more: United give injury updates on Shaw and Eriksen

A brief breather

United do not play again for five days after today in what is the longest gap between fixtures they will have all season, provided they get past 13th-placed La Liga side Sevilla and through to the Europa League semi-finals.

Ten Hag surprised many by making only one change against Brentford and there is little cause for greater rotation today. Martial has to start sooner or later, Tyrell Malacia is a shoo-in and the midfield could be enhanced but there is little urge to change elsewhere.

No change in midfield?

At the fourth time of trying, Scott McTominay and Marcel Sabitzer got the balance right in midfield against Brentford. While he remains at United, McTominay is better utilised in a defensive-minded role and Sabitzer, a more technical midfielder, has contributed classily to United's last two matchwinners against Fulham and Brentford.

Fred has gone more than three weeks without a start and next week Ten Hag will be able to call upon Casemiro and Christian Eriksen. Suddenly, the situation in United's midfield looks more favourable.

Eriksen's return?

The Europa League quarter-final