With Cristiano Ronaldo absent, Ralf Rangnick was forced to change his Manchester United attack for the derby with Manchester City on Sunday.
And with Edinson Cavani also unavailable, the German elected to place his trust in Anthony Elanga rather than call upon either Marcus Rashford or Jesse Lingard at the Etihad.
In a damning indictment of the England international duo’s current standing at Old Trafford, both were only named among the substitutes for the clash with Pep Guardiola’s league leaders.
Rangnick named Elanga, Jadon Sancho and Bruno Fernandes as United’s attacking triumvirate, with Paul Pogba, Fred and Scott McTominay in midfield.
That front six left United without a recognised centre forward, at a ground where Rashford has previously twice scored winners for the Red Devils.
For Lingard, now in his final months at the club, it was to be expected. For Rashford, it looks condemnatory.
Rashford, now 23, has endured a difficult 2021-22 campaign so far, completing 90 minutes just twice all year and scoring only five times in 23 outings; he has scored only two Premier League goals in his last 14 matches.
Despite that, Gary Neville had still expected to see Rashford start, against a City defence with a penchant for a high defensive line.
“With Ronaldo out of the team I think they might be better off with Rashford’s pace on the counter-attack today.
"Rashford’s got to get himself back on track, for the last year, year and a half, he’s not been playing well.They shift him to the left, to the right, down the middle, I don’t think he’s settled and grabbed a position, people refer to the off the field stuff whether it’s a distraction or not and he’s had injuries as well to be fair, his authority off the pitch doesn’t transfer onto the pitch for Manchester United.
“He’s done well here in the past (playing at the Etihad), so it’s a big opportunity for him to show his quality again today if he plays."
Indeed, fellow former United skipper Roy Keane similarly believed that in Ronaldo’s absence: “It does give an opportunity for people like Rashford to come in and have an influence.”
However, Rangnick had other ideas, going without, arguably, his side's most likely available goalscorer.
It was a similar story for wantaway Lingard, who, having failed to get a move away in January - the club wouldn’t let both he and Donny van de Beek depart - again only among the subs.
Lingard has featured on 18 occasions this term, but only for a grand total of 366 minutes - the equivalent of only four full matches. With Elanga's recent impact - including his Champions League equaliser against Atletico Madrid - he has simply jumped above the more experienced man in the pecking order.
Once, not so long ago, both Rashford and Lingar were pinned as the club’s future.
Now, Lingard’s long-term future looks certain to be away from the club, as, in all honesty, it has for quite some time. It's remarkable he's still at the club in truth.
However, the future of Rashford - unwanted when the need appeared greatest - is now surrounded by greater uncertainty than ever before.
