Louis van Gaal has restored Marcos Rojo, Matteo Darmian, Morgan Schneiderlin and Marouane Fellaini are back but there is disappointment for one big player.
United's FA Cup final squad features some interesting changes
Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal has included Matteo Darmian, Marouane Fellaini, Morgan Schneiderlin and Marcos Rojo in his 18-man FA Cup final squad.
Fellaini is available against Crystal Palace after serving a three-match suspension, while Schneiderlin and Rojo return after missing the win over Bournemouth through illness and injury. Darmian suffered an ankle injury in the victory at Norwich two weeks ago, has also recovered in time for the trip to Wembley.
Memphis had, until Van Gaal made his Cup final selections, been included in all 58 of United's matchday squads this season but his chastening debut campaign at Old Trafford has ended agonisingly .
Borthwick-Jackson, a popular pick to start the final ahead of Rojo among supporters, has also suffered disappointment. Both he and Memphis left Carrington in their cars, while the 18-man United squad headed to Stockport station in the team bus.
Andreas Pereira and Guillermo Varela are the other two players included in Tuesday's squad to make way for United's returning quartet. It is understood Van Gaal informed players they would be in his Cup final squad on Thursday.
The Dutchman admitted on Thursday how difficult it would be breaking the good and bad news to his players ahead of today's final.
"I work a year with 27 players - all the 27 try to do their utmost best," he said on Thursday .
"I believe in that and then you have to say to a player he is not invited for the squad. He has to come to the stadium. That is not nice. They have all worked very hard. I do this individually, always, you cannot do it with the group."
The final could be Van Gaal's last match in charge of United and the Dutchman has decisively chosen to go with experience by omitting Borthwick-Jackson and Memphis, who has endured a difficult debut season in England.
In October, Memphis was withdrawn at the interval in the defeat to Arsenal, demoted from the United first-team at Everton and dropped from the Netherlands squad by new coach Danny Blind – only to be reinstated. Van Gaal has substituted Memphis at half-time three times – in the 3-1 win over Liverpool in September, the 3-0 loss at Arsenal and the 2-0 Boxing Day surrender at Stoke.
Borthwick-Jackson, who is understood not to be injured, might arguably feel more hard done by, given Rojo's recent poor form. Phil Jones, who has also made Van Gaal's 18-man squad, has not played in the senior side since January 2 and could receive a Cup final medal without playing in the tournament this season.
United FA Cup final squad: De Gea, Romero, Valencia, Darmian, Jones, Smalling, Blind, Rojo, Fellaini, Herrera, Carrick, Schneiderlin, Lingard, Young, Mata, Rooney, Martial, Rashford
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