Ralf Rangnick explains Hannibal Mejbri selection and Cristiano Ronaldo absence for Manchester United

Ralf Rangnick has explained why Hannibal Mejbri starts for Manchester United against Crystal Palace on Sunday afternoon.

Although Hannibal Mejbri made his United debut on the final day of last season against Wolves, that appearance was from the substitute bench. Rangnick has selected the youngster to start today and that means he'll finally make his full United debut.

Edinson Cavani also starts for United against Palace. Cristiano Ronaldo is absent for the Reds' visit to Selhurst Park and that has left Rangnick with a lack of attacking options, which has provided Cavani with the chance to make just his seventh league start this term.

ALSO READ:Crystal Palace vs Manchester United LIVE score and goal updates as Hannibal Mejbri starts.

Rangnick spoke ahead of kick-off and he revealed Hannibal's training performances are the reason he's starting today.

"He [Hannibal] should just try as play as he trained," Rangick told MUTV.

"He was good in training in the last two weeks and that's why I decided to have him in the starting line up today. Yes, they [Rashford, Shaw, Sancho, Ronaldo] are all not available due to injuries and we have a couple of players missing today.

"It's a good experience. Maybe a couple of them will come onto the pitch during the game. We will try to win the game, that is our job, we don't want to rely on a result at Brighton and in order to do that we need to win this game."

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