Rashford shone alongside both Amad Diallo and Garnacho and many had expected him to continue in that role at Selhurst Park, but the 26-year-old dropped back out of the team for Joshua Zirkzee.
Despite three goals in his last two games, the Dutch boss explained: “It was not difficult because we need to rotate. Alejandro Garnacho also needs starts to get better and get more power. Therefore, we rotate.
“We have seen he (Garnacho) has a lot of end product, he has scored so many goals and assists. He has only started one time this season.”
Earlier in the week, Ten Hag curiously opted to talk about the private life of one of his key men in Rashford: “I think he always knew. Every player knows, when your lifestyle is not right you can’t perform in the league we have to perform in.
“You don’t get the right levels if you don’t have a good and disciplined life away from Carrington. He needed some help, by backing him, for instance. But he has to do it himself, at the end of the day.
“He has to set his life right, his training attitude right, he has to set his match attitude right. When he sets his professionalism he will perform because he’s a class player.”
There are returns to the squad, however, for both Mason Mount and Rasmus Hojlund. The pair have been out of action through injury but could step up their fitness off the bench in south London.
Casemiro remains on the bench after his horror Liverpool showing, with Christian Eriksen preferred, while Antony’s impressive performance from the start against Barnsley has not done enough to keep his spot in the team.
Manchester United starting XI vs Crystal Palace: Onana; Mazraoui, De Ligt, Martinez, Dalot; Mainoo, Eriksen, Fernandes; Amad, Zirkzee, Garnacho.
Subs: Bayindir, Evans, Maguire, Casemiro, Mount, Ugarte, Antony, Hojlund, Rashford.
