Alexis SanchezGetty Images

Man Utd team news: Alexis returns as Mourinho makes eight changes at West Ham

Jose Mourinho has made eight changes for Manchester United's match at West Ham on Thursday, leaving out Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial with Jesse Lingard and Alexis Sanchez leading the attack.

Following last Friday's defeat at Brighton, Mourinho harshly criticised his side and Rashford and Martial in particular as they stepped in following an injury to Romelu Lukaku. 

"'Why always Lukaku, why always Lukaku, why always Lukaku?' You have the answer," Mourinho fumed after the 1-0 loss.

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And Rashford and Martial both drop to the bench against the Hammers, with Sanchez and Lingard coming into the line-up among a raft of alterations.

Lukaku is still unavailable and faces a race to recover from his ankle injury in time for the FA Cup final next Saturday, while Marouane Fellaini is out with a muscle problem.

United will switch to a three-man defence with Victor Lindelof and Phil Jones stepping up as centre-backs, and Luke Shaw called up to play as a left wing-back. Scott McTominay and Ander Herrera come in to complement Paul Pogba in midfield.

West Ham go into the game knowing they have already secured their Premier League place for next season, but manager David Moyes will be looking for a positive result as he looks to stake a claim for continued employment at London Stadium in 2018-19.

West Ham XI: Adrian, Zabaleta, Rice, Ogbonna, Cresswell, Kouyate, Noble, Joao Mario, Masuaku, Lanzini, Arnautovic

Subs: Hart, Evra, Cullen, Obiang, Fernandes, Hugill, Carroll

Manchester United XI: De Gea, Valencia, Lindelof, Shaw, Jones, Smalling, Herrera, McTominay, Pogba, Lingard, Sanchez.

Subs: Romero, Bailly, Blind, Young, Mata, Martial, Rashford​

 
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