Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was more than happy to allow goalkeeper David de Gea to return to Spain after the birth of his first child as Dean Henderson steps in for Sunday's derby clash against Manchester City.
The 30-year-old was conspicuous by his absence from Wednesday's 0-0 draw at Crystal Palace due to "personal reasons", with the goalkeeper subsequently confirming his partner gave birth on Thursday.
Returning to Spain during the coronavirus pandemic brings quarantine headaches but Solskjaer had no hesitation in allowing De Gea to leave despite the crunch clash with City looming.
"It's a fantastic day for David," he said. "Of course when you become a dad that's probably the best possible feeling you can have. The ones who have been lucky enough to have that feeling know exactly what David is going through now.
"I'll give him the time he needs before he comes back. He has to go home and in the old world that's a day, you come back and you're ready again.
"Now with the pandemic and quarantines it's a different world, but still we felt when David wanted to go and be there to support his girlfriend of course there's not even a decision to make. Dean came in and played well and he's ready, so I'll give David the time he needs of course."
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Palace v Man United player ratings
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CRYSTAL PALACE RATINGS: Vicente Guaita, 7 – Palace have found a real gem in Vicente Guaita and the Spaniard kept out Nemanja Matic’s deflected strike with a spectacular top left hand. He confidently claimed a couple of dangerous crosses for good measure in a competent display between the sticks and when he was well-beaten by Mason Greenwood’s curling strike, so was the crossbar. AFP -
Joel Ward, 8 – A rampant start from the full-back who shrugged off an early dart form Marcus Rashford before clattering Luke Shaw on the follow through after a big challenge. Capped an impressive personal display when he cut out Aaron Wan-Bissaka’s low cross with Edinson Cavani waiting for a tap-in. AFP -
Cheikhou Kouyate, 7 - He wasn’t really asked any questions by an eye-watering United attack on paper. He was too strong for Rashford and even managed to produce a blistering burst forward from the back, although Harry Maguire was on hand to shepherd the ball out of play. EPA -
Gary Cahill, 7 - Largely untroubled other than one or two frantic moments when United were able to up the tempo in the final third. Good value for his clean sheet against an increasingly flat visiting attack and cruised through the second half as the visitors failed to hit the target once. AFP -
Patrick van Aanholt, 7 - Forced into action probably for the first time just before the break when he turned Wan-Bissaka’s cross behind for a corner. Found himself with a late chance to steal the headlines only for Henderson to make a big save. EPA -
Luka Milivojevic, 6 - Nothing spectacular, but it didn’t have to be against the lethargic Red Devils. His only sight of goal came when he took aim with a free-kick from 20 yards. His effort was unspectacular for once, yet still nearly caused chaos when it dropped wide of the back post with United defenders guessing. EPA -
James McCarthy, 7 – He probably feared the worst when Matic’s piledriver nicked off him, but actually the Palace man’s intervention took just enough pace off the ball for his goalkeeper to pull off a superb flying stop. Limped off just past the hour-mark looking somewhat dejected, with Jairo Riedewald his replacement. Reuters -
Eberechi Eze, 7 - A couple of surging runs followed by a disappointing final ball, and that was more or less the story of his night. He showed quick feet to glide past his marker just past the half-hour mark and he was later too fast for Fred who hauled him down in a perilous position, but the free-kick came to nothing. -
Andros Townsend, 6 - The 29-year-old is always a threat with a rocket of a left foot that’s also capable of delivering a killer set-piece. His only goal of the season came at Old Trafford in the reverse fixture and he was on the hunt for another when he checked inside and wriggled away from Maguire, but he slipped at the vital moment. AFP -
Jordan Ayew, 6 – Started the night on the left of a three behind Benteke. His pace was always a threat on the break and he won the first corner of the night off Wan-Bissaka, but clear cut chances were hard to come by. Tested Dean Henderson’s handling with a decent effort from a tight angle in the second half, but the visiting goalkeeper was untroubled. Reuters -
Christian Benteke, 7 - A tireless start from the forward who barely gave the visiting defenders a moment's rest in the opening 10 minutes. He produced a moment of superb chest control to take down a long punt into the box before smartly winning his side a corner, but later fluffed his best chance of the night from Jordan Ayew's pull-back. Reuters -
SUB: Jairo Riedewald, 6 - Replaced a disappointed James McCarthy for the final half-hour. A comfortable outing, although he caught Scott McTominay with a slightly naughty challenge that the cold and mist did little to take the sting out of. AFP -
SUB: Jeffrey Schlupp, NR - Introduced in place of Eze late in the second half but had too little time to make an impact. AFP -
MANCHESTER UNITED RATINGS: Dean Henderson 7. Started ahead of De Gea with the Spaniard missing out for personal reasons. Had little to do until key 89th minute stop from Van Aanholt. Another clean sheet. AFP -
Aaron Wan-Bissaka 6. First United player to try and dribble past an opponent – and that took 40 minutes in a flat first half. Put a super cross in after 43 against his former team too, then vanished into the fog like the rest. Reuters -
Harry Maguire 6. Gave the ball away early on but headed away a 29th minute Palace free-kick as he protected Henderson. Captain of a side who’ve drawn four of their last five away games 0-0. AFP -
Eric Bailly 6. Charged out of the defence with the ball and lost it, but otherwise fine in the first half. Untroubled in the second half. AFP -
Luke Shaw 7. Heavily involved as United were most effective attacking down the left in the first half. Best of a very bad bunch in an extremely boring game. AFP -
Nemanja Matic 5. Shot after 12 minutes was the closest United came to scoring in the first half, but United fielding two holding midfielders against teams lower in the table is starting to frustrate fans. AFP -
Fred 5. Moved the ball forward quickly at the start as United dominated in the misty night, but it quickly went flat and we saw attacks break down with Fred as he – and others – gave the ball away. Got worse as the game went on and was the first player to be substituted – albeit 73 minutes in. Reuters -
Bruno Fernandes 4. Gone off the boil and gave the ball away more than any other player. So influential for most of his time at United, so disappointing in recent weeks as his team’s form has dipped. Reuters -
Marcus Rashford 4. Controlled a pass from Shaw after 16 minutes and shot wide, but as ineffective as his fellow forwards in the first half. Like other United players, he looked jaded. AFP -
Mason Greenwood 4. Neat to set up Matic, but some careless passes allowed moves to break down. Late shot over. Only one Premier League goal this season. He’s talented, but that’s not good enough and what’s more worrying is the team have stopped scoring. AFP -
Edinson Cavani 4. Rusty after a few games out and had an excellent chance but faded and did little of note. Needs to find form like the rest. AFP -
SUB: Scott McTominay 6. On for Fred after 73 minutes – that’s how long it took United to make their first change. Gave a bit of urgency but he’s a midfielder and it was the attack which needed changing. EPA -
SUB: Daniel James 6. On for Cavani after 76 mins. Had a free header a minute later but missed the connection as United made it only three wins from 10. AFP
