Ole Gunnar Solskjaer explains why he dropped Jadon Sancho for West Ham clash

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer chose to leave Jadon Sancho on the bench for Manchester United's clash with West Ham so he could call on the winger as an impact substitute.

Sancho, 21, featured in all five of the Red Devils' games ahead of the trip to the London Stadium but dropped out of the line-up to face the Irons.

The England international is still waiting for his first goal or assist for the club after arriving from Borussia Dortmund for £73million this summer.

Solskjaer is keen to rotate his squad as the calendar becomes more hectic and opted for Mason Greenwood and Paul Pogba on the flanks in Sancho's place.

Jadon Sancho was left on the bench for the trip to the London Stadium

"Jadon started the Tuesday game and we found the decision better to leave him here now and the chance to come on and make a difference if we need him to," Solskjaer told Sky Sports ahead of kick-off.

Sancho was taken off in the first half of Manchester United's Champions League encounter with Young Boys on Tuesday.

Aaron Wan-Bissaka was shown a straight red card and Solskjaer was forced to change his system, with United going on to lose 2-1.

Meanwhile, Solskjaer recalled Scott McTominay to the starting XI to face West Ham after the Scotland international recovered from groin surgery.

"He's always been a physical monster and specimen," Solskjaer told MUTV of McTominay. "He's fit and of course we want to get him going as quick as we can.

"He's missed a bit of football but the operation was needed and why not put him back in?"

Do you agree with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's decision to bench Jadon Sancho against West Ham? Have your say in the comments.

Turning his attention to West Ham, who beat Dinamo Zagreb 2-0 on Thursday, Solskjaer added: "I don't think it's (playing in Europe) a problem this early on in this season to recover.

"Of course it's a new experience for them, we had two more extra days so we are very well prepared of course."

West Ham are without suspended forward Michail Antonio, who started the season in blistering form but was sent off last weekend against Southampton.

Scott McTominay returned to the starting line-up against West Ham ( Image:

REUTERS)

"Of course he (Antonio) gives a threat, a different threat to the players they've got up front," said Solskjaer.

"But I've always said about the forwards he's (David Moyes) got, they're creative, they're sharp, their one against ones are so hard to defend against."

Solskjaer added: "We're prepared for them without him (Antonio) and what system they come with who knows? But they'll be creative, imaginative players - that's for sure."