'It is important' - Ruben Amorim explains decision to give Manchester United player shock chance

Ruben Amorim believes Antony and Tyrell Malacia are "ready to cope" with the demands of starting for Manchester United against Bodo/Glimt.

Amorim drew 1-1 against Ipswich Town in his first game in charge of United but will be looking to seal the first win of his tenure when facing Bodo/Glimt in the Europa League league phase.

United are heavy favourites to claim their second victory in the Europa League this season and Amorim has made six changes, tweaking the defensive line, midfield and attack.

Lisandro Martinez returns to the team after recovering from a back injury, Malacia and Antony will start in the wing-back positions, Manuel Ugarte is set to start in midfield alongside United captain Bruno Fernandes and Mason Mount and Rasmus Hojlund have been recalled to the line-up.

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Malacia is making his first start in 550 days and Mount is starting for the first time in 96 days. Amorim spoke to TNT Sports ahead of kick-off and said of his selection decisions: “We have to change players to be fresh, not to prepare the other games, but to be competitive today we need to have fresh players.

"We are in the beginning of something, so every player counts, and we have to show that. And like you said, you talk about Antony, Brazilian international, and then you talk about Malacia, a Dutch international.

"So, they are international players, they are Manchester United players, so they are ready to cope with the demands of the game. I think it is important to run a lot because Bodo/Glimt run a lot.

"And they are very good on the ball, so we have to choose the right moments to press. But when you coach a team like Manchester United, you have to have the ball, you have to be dominant.

"So we’ll try to do that. In the last game against Ipswich, we managed to do it in the second half, but we were not so dangerous, so we have to be more complete as a team, and we try to do it step by step, and we will try to manage to win the game in the first hour of the performance.”

United have drawn with FC Twente, FC Porto and Fenerbahce in this season's Europa League with their only win coming against PAOK.