With Cristiano Ronaldo sidelined through illness and Edinson Cavani out with a calf problem, Marcus Rashford represented Manchester United's only orthodox striker for what was a must-win home game against Leicester in the top four race.
Rashford is a hometown hero that has been out of form and down on his luck this season but a Saturday night visit from Leicester could prove - this was the thinking at least - a catalyst for change.
Only when team news dropped there his name was, among the substitutes, as interim boss Ralf Rangnick chose to play Paul Pogba and use Bruno Fernandes as a false nine.