Former centre-back Wes Brown has named Bruno Fernandes, Jesse Lingard and Mason Greenwood as Manchester United's three standout performers in their 1-0 defeat to West Ham on Wednesday evening.
United bowed out of the Carabao Cup at the third round stage of the competition for the first time since 2018, with Manuel Lanzini's effort inside the first ten minutes enough to seal a place in the next round for the Hammers.
Although United, who return to Premier League action when they face Aston Villa at Old Trafford on Saturday lunchtime, enjoyed plenty of possession in and around the Hammers' penalty area, they were unable to carve out any meaningful chances, meaning they suffered their second successive defeat in cup competitions.
Nevertheless, United could take some positives from the game, including Dean Henderson's return to action, Anthony Elanga earning some more first-team minutes and Greenwood looking lively after coming off the bench.
And for Brown, the performances of both Lingard and Fernandes, alongside Greenwood, were encouraging.
"For me, I thought Jesse (played well) before he came off," Brown told MUTV. "I think he came off because he was playing well to keep him as fresh as possible for the weekend.
"Mason as well. When Mason came on, he was causing all sorts of threats down the right-hand side. He managed to put a few good balls in. He managed to get a few shots off himself.
"Bruno did a few little balls when he came on. But other than that, they were pretty comfortable, the West Ham defenders."
Whilst Fernandes and Greenwood are highly likely to start Saturday's clash with Villa, Lingard will be hoping he has done enough to force his way into manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's starting line-up.
His last two substitute appearances in the Premier League have seen him score after stepping off the bench, while his showing against the Hammers on Wednesday night was encouraging.
However, with Fernandes and Lingard battling it out for the No.10 role, the latter could find it difficult to force his way in.
Sign up to our United newsletter so you never miss an update from Old Trafford this season.
