Erik ten Hag said Manuel Ugarte wasn’t in a position to start for Manchester United in their eventual 3-0 win over Southampton.

Goals from Matthijs de Ligt, Marcus Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho sealed a comfortable win for the Red Devils, who saw Andre Onana save a Cameron Archer penalty moments before De Ligt headed home the opener.

There was surprise when Christian Eriksen was named in United’s starting lineup prior to the game ahead of Ugarte – the Dane replacing Casemiro after his abject performance against Liverpool – with some expecting the £43m arrival from Paris Saint-Germain to start despite the international break disrupting preparations for the trip to Southampton.

Ugarte came on for Eriksen after 73 minutes, helping United to not only see out the game but score a late third, and Ten Hag confirmed the reason for Ugarte’s delayed debut was simply down to the 23-year-old’s inability to train with his teammates.

“He didn’t work with the team, it was two sessions, one before the break and yesterday,” Ten Hag said. “He was the only one later into the team training so only yesterday he had 20 minutes training with the team. We were happy we could bring him today and show what he could deliver to our team.”

Ten Hag also took advantage of his post-match air time to blast the criticism levelled at Rashford, who he had suggested prior to the game was ready to break his goalscoring duck.

“It’s very important, we don’t pay attention to what the outside world is saying but there was too much negativity to him,” Ten Hag said.

“He created two great chances in that game [the defeat to Liverpool], in other games this season he has played very well. He deserved that goal but you had to work for it. That is what he is doing and then you get a reward. He scored a great goal.”

The goal was Rashford’s 132nd in United colours, with Ten Hag adding: “He scored already so many goals for Manchester United. At his age the number of goals is amazing and I’m sure he will score many more goals.

“To get into a season for any striker is so important, to be on the scoring list and then you build momentum and belief and then it will come into more goals.”

READ THE LATEST MAN UTD NEWS, TRANSFER RUMOURS & GOSSIP