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Manchester Evening News
Manchester Evening News
Sport
Liam Wood

Ralf Rangnick has an easy Manchester United selection decision despite Bruno Fernandes return

For the abundance of attacking talent Ralf Rangnick has at his disposal at Manchester United, one thing is plain to see about Mason Greenwood.

Having finished as runners-up to neighbours Manchester City in the Premier League last season, figures responsible for incomings and outgoings at Old Trafford issued a triple statement of intent.

A move four years in the making, England forward Jadon Sancho finally became a United player after German side Borussia Dortmund agreed to sanction his £72.9million return to the UK - while Sancho was followed through those same doors by Raphael Varane and Cristiano Ronaldo.

Back for a second coming, five-time Ballon d'Or winner Ronaldo has already scored 14 goals this campaign.

His return was unignorable from a playing and business perspective, although that sensational deal - and the summer swoop for Sancho - would have alarmed Greenwood and his representatives.

Having come good, once again, towards the second half of last term, two potential spots were, ultimately, blocked as he also had to contend with Marcus Rashford after his recovery from shoulder surgery.

Before they came into the team, Greenwood underlined his status with three goals in as many outings.

Was this going to be the year he re-emerged as an England prospect and hold down a regular position at United?

Challenges have certainly been presented to the Bradford-born forward at Old Trafford, while a decision he made alongside his family and Three Lions manager Gareth Southgate means supporters have, still, only seen him appear once at senior international level.

There will be countless more appearances to come in that respect over the next decade.

In the shorter-term, Rangnick has been left with a simple decision to make against Wolves.

Reverting to his trademark 4-2-2-2 formation after replacing Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in the hot-seat, the innovative German has created a different pathway for Greenwood to emerge - and for the most part he was able to take his latest opportunity during the Burnley win.

Without one half of their talismanic Portuguese pair, United opted for Sancho and Greenwood as the two number 10s and, with that, came a glimpse of how the unique system ought to be played.

Bruno Fernandes is back from suspension for the Wolves match on Monday afternoon (5.30pm).

However, with Sancho finally starting to show why United courted him for so long and paid such a hefty fee when they were already well-stocked in attacking quarters - and Greenwood no doubt having a higher potential than any of his Old Trafford contemporaries - the returning playmaker is by no means a shoe-in.

Would you start Greenwood against Wolves? Have your say in the comments section below.

It might not be two from three in any case, especially as the action-packed festive schedule presents the possible chance to rest fit-again Edinson Cavani or - tin hat at the ready - his even-more esteemed partner up front.

Greenwood, in that very respect, might prove to be the golden ticket for Rangnick moving forward.

Capable of playing in any of those four attacking positions, the time is right for the academy graduate to be given more responsibility at Old Trafford and beyond as United seek to unlock a potentially generational talent - for club and country.

We've teamed up with LiveScore to invite fans to vote for their favourite results - the games which were much more than a score. Vote for the match that mattered to you here .

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