MANCHESTER UNITED have named five of their World Cup stars in their EFL Cup starting eleven.
Manager Erik ten Hag has recalled Marcus Rashford, Christian Eriksen, Casemiro, Bruno Fernandes and Tyrell Malacia to take on Championship side Burnley in the round of 16 tie.
One shock for the Red Devils team was that midfielder Casemiro was picked to play as an emergency centre-back.
This is despite England star Harry Maguire being back at the club, but he did not make the squad.
He was left out of the team by Ten Hag due to illness.
The manager explained he took the decision to play Casemiro in defence because he has played there before.
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He told MUTV: “We chose Case. He has played more often in this position.
“Luke Shaw has also offered, which is good because they want to play, they are hungry.
“Rhys Bennett did very well against Everton [in a friendly]. We have options, but it will be Casemiro.”
Maguire enjoyed a good World Cup campaign as he was one of the Three Lions best players at the tournament.
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Other defenders Lisandro Martinez and Raphael Varane are still not back at the club after they made it all the way to the World Cup final.
It is the first game for the side without Cristiano Ronaldo since his contract was mutually terminated following his interview with Piers Morgan.
The club wrote a blunt 81-word goodbye to the attacker in the matchday programme.
Full Man United line-up is as follows: Dubravka, Wan-Bissaka, McTominay, Lindelof, Malacia, Casemiro, Eriksen, Rashford, Fernandes, Garnacho and Martial.
The move for Casemiro to go at the back worked and United won the tie 2-0.
Eriksen and Rashford were on target as the side cemented their spot in the quarter-final.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
