Manchester United ace Marcus Rashford has already told Erik ten Hag what he might want to hear

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Following Manchester United's 7-0 thrashing of Barnsley in the Carabao Cup on Tuesday night, manager Erik ten Hag has some difficult selection calls to make ahead of Saturday's clash with Crystal Palace.

The Dutchman shuffled his pack for the visit of the League One side, making eight changes to the side that had seen off Southampton three days earlier. Only Diogo Dalot, Christian Eriksen and Marcus Rashford kept their places.

Ten Hag's decision to keep both Eriksen and Rashford in the team was fully vindicated, with the duo each scoring two goals. As a result, the latter has now scored three in his last two appearances.

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As a result of Ten Hag ringing the changes in midweek, Rashford was moved inside and tasked with starting as United's central attacker. Antony started to his right Alejandro Garnacho, who also scored twice, started to his left.

The left-wing is, of course, Rashford's best and favourite position - and that is something he has made no secret of down the years. He has produced the best of his football from that side of the pitch.

However, albeit against League One opposition, the England international made his mark at centre-forward, scoring two very well-taken goals. His first was reminiscent of his form two seasons ago, in which he scored 30 goals in a single season for the first time in his career.

Ahead of the trip to Palace, Ten Hag faces a selection headache in attack, with Rashford's recent resurgence, Garnacho's two-goal haul against Barnsley and Amad's consistent performances giving him plenty to think about. Based on Tuesday night's evidence, both Rashford and Garnacho will be backed to keep their places, but Amad is also worthy of a starting berth out wide after his performance at Southampton.

With Joshua Zirkzee also pushing to feature in the starting line up, as well as the expected return of Rasmus Hojlund from injury, Ten Hag faces a big dilemma - but that one that he will welcome.

In truth, Rashford, Garnacho and Amad are all worthy of starting at Palace, but there is a chance one of them will be left disappointed. However, if Ten Hag believes all three of them should start, he might be tempted to play Rashford in a central position again, with Amad operating on the right and Garnacho playing on the left.

(Image: Ash Donelon/Manchester United via Getty Images.)

Although Rashford has regularly admitted he prefers playing on the left rather than through the middle, he confessed last year that he was beginning to enjoy playing centrally that little bit more.

Speaking to Gary Neville on The Overlap, he said: "I prefer the left, I feel like on the left it's easier to stay in the game. From even when I was younger I always wanted to stay in the game, that's why I think I struggle playing centre-forward sometimes because I struggle with patience.

"You might not touch the ball for twenty minutes and then your first touch might be an opportunity to score, you have to be mentally switched on and it's almost like being a goalkeeper. You might not be involved in the game for god knows how long but when it's time to make a save, they have to make it.

"I never enjoyed that aspect of it but I feel as I've got older, I'm starting to enjoy it a lot more when I do play up there."

With that admission in mind, Ten Hag, in the event of finding it really challenging to leave one of Rashford, Garnacho and Amad out of the starting XI, may test the water with Rashford in a central position once again. It is by no means his best role, but he has delivered the goods from that area of the pitch in the past.

Ten Hag has got the selection headache he wanted, triggered by good performances, but now he must find a way to solve the puzzle he has been presented with. To keep everyone happy, though, he might be left with no choice but to play Rashford down the middle.

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