Erik ten Hag explains Harry Maguire and Jadon Sancho returning to Man Utd starting XI against Leeds

Harry Maguire returned to the starting XI on Sunday afternoon (Picture: Getty Images)

Erik ten Hag made three changes to his Manchester United team to take on Leeds at Elland Road on Sunday, bringing in Harry Maguire, Tyrell Malacia and Jadon Sancho into the starting XI.

The two teams only met on Wednesday at Old Trafford, with the Red Devils bouncing back from two goals down to draw 2-2 with a managerless Leeds side.

Sancho came off the bench to score the final goal of the game and he has been rewarded with a place in the starting line-up, replacing Alejandra Garnacho on the right wing, with Marcus Rashford on the left and Bruno Fernandes behind Wout Weghorst.

Maguire comes in at centre-back alongside Luke Shaw with Malacia in at left-back which looks a more vulnerable defence to Ten Hag’s first choice back four with Raphael Varane and Lisandro Martinez in central defence. The two World Cup winners are on the bench.

On his team selection, Tan Hag said: ‘Rotation is one part of it. Lot of games to cover, World Cup. We’ve got a lot of games ahead as well. Another part is tactics.’

He added on the pairing of Shaw and Maguire at the back: ‘They know each other and they know the game, they know this rivalry too. Hopefully they can project that to the whole team.’

With Sancho returning to the starting XI, the Dutchman explained: ‘Jadon is in a good place. He’s a magnificent player and I think he can contribute to the team today.’

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Sancho will be making his first Premier League start since a 1-1 draw with Chelsea in October, while it is also a rare start in the league for Maguire and Malacia.

The England centre-back will only be making his fifth league start under Ten Hag and his second of 2023, while Malacia is making his 10th Premier League start but also his second since the turn of the year.

With Manchester City playing later on Sunday against Aston Villa, victory for Manchester United would see them climb to second in the Premier League table.

However, Leeds are scrapping for their lives and hope to move away from the relegation zone, with them currently sitting one point and one place above the bottom three.

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