Paul Pogba was given the chance to prove Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's claims the Frenchman remains "hungry" as the midfielder was restored to the starting XI for Saturday's Manchester derby.
Pogba had to settle for a spot on the bench as Manchester United were dumped out of the Champions League by RB Leipzig on Tuesday, though he was lively in his cameo, but starts against Manchester City at Old Trafford.
The World Cup winner saw a header deflected in as United got the score back to 3-2 in the second half after falling 3-0 down, and then his cross was almost turned in by a Leipzig defender late on as the Red Devils pushed for the equaliser that would have sent them through at the expense of the Germans.
Alas, United were unsuccessful and therefore come into the derby under pressure, while Pogba has long been considered out of form.
His benching in Leipzig came just a day after his agent Mino Raiola claimed Pogba was finished with United, but Solskjaer will hope he can link up to good effect with his midfield colleagues – Scott McTominay kept his place in the side, while Fred returned alongside him.
Marcus Rashford, Mason Greenwood and Bruno Fernandes were selected in attack.
City, however, were once again without Sergio Aguero.
The Argentinian striker has missed most of the season so far due to knee and hamstring injuries, and although he scored as a substitute against Marseille in the Champions League in midweek, he was not even been named on the bench for City.
Gabriel Jesus was picked to lead the line, while at the back John Stones returned in place of the injured Eric Garcia.
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