Marcus Rashford for Manchester United.
Marcus Rashford will be desperate to start against Manchester City, but Michael Carrick should pick Matheus Cunha over him.
That's the view of Darren Bent, despite noting that he has not had a real chance to impress for Manchester United so far this season.
Marcus Rashford for Manchester United.3
Rashford will eye a start against City after being rested during the week
Rashford will hope to appear in his first Manchester derby since they met in the 2024 Community Shield, having now returned to action for his boyhood club after loan spells at Aston Villa and Barcelona.
The left winger has started in two of the Red Devils' three Premier League games this season, coming off the bench in their first outing.
He did not play in the 4-0 win over Sabah FK in the Champions League on Thursday night, with the clash against City two days away.
Rashford has scored five goals and assisted one other in 22 matches for United against their local rivals, but former Villa striker Bent has explained why he wouldn't start him this weekend.
Rashford to be dropped for derby?
On talkSPORT Drive, he responded to Troy Deeney's claim that fans are too lenient with Rashford because he's from their academy, and players such as Matheus Cunha are not given as much time.
"Academy players at any football club always get more time than anyone else, but that's just normal," Bent said. "They're one of your own, of course they're going to get a bit longer."
He added: "With Rashford, you're going to get some Man United fans who have backed him the whole time, even though he's said, 'No, I don't want to come back, I want to stay at Barcelona'.
"You (host Andy Goldstein) still welcomed him back because he's one of your own, you love him, you've always loved him. I think, for the manager, it's a nice problem to have.
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"This is not a problem because you've got (Benjamin) Sesko scoring goals now and me, being a former centre forward, I would like to see Sesko play in his position.
"Rashford, to me, looks sharper this season. Cunha's playing really well. (Bryan) Mbeumo's playing well.
Michael Carrick looks on during Manchester United's match against Hull City3
Bent believes that Carrick should omit Rashford from the starting XI on Sunday
"At least you've got all these options now that are playing well so, rather than Michael Carrick going, 'What am I going to do this week, none of them are playing well, what do I do?'
"They're all scoring goals, so it's a nice problem...I would opt to go for Mbeumo, Sesko, Cunha from the left."
When asked why he would drop Rashford, Bent said: "The only reason why I feel this is a little bit unfair, and this could be the same for most, is that Mbeumo's getting a good run of games.
"Rashford's not really had a run yet, and you're only going to get the best of Rashford when he's playing, playing, playing."
Goldstein also wondered if such a decision for the Manchester derby would make a difference for Rashford as he is local to the area.
"Of course, it will mean more to him than most," Bent insisted. "He's scored in loads of them as well. I remember when he first burst on the scene, he scored in his third or fourth game.
Matheus Cunha for Manchester United.3
Cunha, who scored against Sabah, has been tipped to play on the left
"He knows all about it, he's from Manchester, he understands it. But, Michael Carrick ain't got time to worry about that.
"Cunha's playing well, Sesko's playing well. If you believe that's the best combination to get Man United to win, that's what you have to do."