Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is ready to split Manchester United’s penalty-taking duties once again, with Marcus Rashford and Bruno Fernandes set to share the responsibility.
Rashford converted a spot-kick in the 5-2 victory over Bournemouth last weekend, though Fernandes stepped up to score in United’s 1-1 draw away at Tottenham last month while Rashford was still on the pitch.
Solskjaer confirmed on Wednesday that the pair would alternate as penalty-takers, despite criticism of the same approach earlier in the season when Rashford and Paul Pogba were United’s penalty takers.
United missed consecutive penalties in August, with Pogba seeing an effort saved in the 1-1 draw with Wolverhampton Wanderers and Rashford striking the post in a 2-1 defeat to Crystal Palace.
Gary Neville, the former United full-back and team-mate of Solskjaer, said the policy showed a “lack of leadership” at the time but Solskjaer is ready to alternate between two takers again.
“It’s going to be a job they will share again. It’s who feels confident there and then,” he said.
“You saw Bruno score against Tottenham. I think Marcus would take the next one against Tottenham but we got the VAR call that it wasn’t a penalty.
“I’m very confident in both of them. No worries, they’ve got to make the decision out there and that’s just how we’ll leave it.”
Fernandes has scored all of his three United penalties to date, having converted against Watford and Club Brugge while Rashford was unavailable with a back injury.
Rashford has taken nine penalties for United this season, scoring seven. Having missed against Palace in August, Rashford also failed from the spot away to Norwich in late October.
