Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has explained that David de Gea and Bruno Fernandes are both carrying knocks after neither were named in the starting line-up for Manchester United's Premier League game against West Ham.
There were some eyebrows raised when the team news was released, with Dean Henderson starting in goal and De Gea left out of the squad altogether and the in-form Fernandes dropping to the bench.
Some suggested Solskjaer may have one eye on United's huge Champions League clash against RB Leipzig on Tuesday.
But speaking to Sky Sports ahead of kick-off at the London Stadium, Solskjaer said both were dealing with injury problems.
On De Gea, he said: "The injury he had after Southampton played up a little bit. We didn't want to take a risk with David so kept him at home."
And when asked about Fernandes, he continued: "He's been kicked between pillar and post lately as well. There's a kick he got against Southampton and another one that if we don't have to use him I'd like not to."
Marcus Rashford also had to make do with a place on the bench, and Solskjaer added: "Yeah he's fit enough to be on the bench if we need to.
"We go into these games needing all the points we can get and Marcus held his arm with a bad shoulder. Put it that way and he said he's ready if needed."
United must avoid defeat against Leipzig next week to confirm their qualification to the knockout stages of the Champions League.
And Solskjaer said: "Well you've got to pick a team you got to think short term, win this one, with a little bit of an eye on the next few games.
"With David and Bruno and Marcus I couldn't take the risk today. Even though we know this is an unbelievably tough place, tough team to play against."
