Jose Mourinho has made a major statement by continuing Antonio Valencia’s Manchester United exile despite Luke Shaw being suspended for today’s clash with Crystal Palace.
The United club captain hasn’t played since the start of last month, despite being fit, with Ashley Young being preferred at right back in recent weeks.
Shaw’s absence was expected to see him recalled, but Mourinho has chosen to go with Matteo Darmian instead - the Italian who was told he was allowed to leave in the summer.
Darmian hasn’t played since the first game of the season against Leicester.
Valencia - who is named on the bench - had to apologise after inadvertently ‘liking’ an Instagram post calling for Mourinho to be replaced last month.
Alexis Sanchez has also been left out of the starting line up, with Romelu Lukaku leading the attack.
Anthony Martial and Paul Pogba also start after recovering from injuries that ruled them out of France’s games against Holland and Uruguay during the international break.
Man Utd XI: De Gea, Darmian, Lindelof, Smalling, Young, Matic, Pogba, Lingard, Mata, Martial, Lukaku
Subs: Jones, Sanchez, Rashford, Grant, Fred, Valencia, Fellaini
Crystal Palace XI: Hennessey, Wan Bissaka, Tomkins, Sakho, Van Aanholt, McArthur, Milivojevic, Kouyate, Meyer, Townsend, Zaha
Subs: Ward, Sorloth, Ayew, Schlupp, Guaita, Kelly, Puncheon
Referee: Lee Mason (Lancashire)
