'A difficult situation' - Man United's stunning victory was almost not the biggest derby story

There was a rumour circulating before the Manchester derby that Marcus Rashford was set to be axed from the squad. That proved to be correct when Manchester United's line-up was confirmed, but there was an unexpected twist as Alejandro Garnacho was also absent.

Club sources confirmed Rashford and Garnacho weren't injured and it transpired they had trained at Carrington on the morning of the game, which naturally made it a huge story.

The team's stunning comeback win was the biggest story of the day but the omission of Rashford and Garnacho was seismic.

Before the match, Ruben Amorim provided an update and told Sky Sports: "Selection. We try to evaluate everything: training, performance, game performance, engagement with the teammates, pushing the teammates up. Everything is on the line when we analyse the players.

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"I don't want to send a message. It's simply an evaluation, and they know it. The players are really, really smart. Everybody understands my decision. I have to choose. It's just simple selection.

"The context is difficult. We have to win games and we have a difficult situation. I pay attention to everything, the way you eat, the way you put on your clothes to go the game. Everything. I make my evaluation and then I have to decide. I have a lot of players to choose."

Amorim added that Rashford and Garnacho had been informed they would not be in the squad in plenty of time before the game and said they had "trained well" on the morning.

Erik ten Hag was praised for restoring discipline at Carrington and being a ruthless manager. There is always a smile on Amorim's face but that shouldn't deceive supporters because he is another ruthless coach and he felt like he needed to take action against two of his best players.

Garnacho is United's top goalscorer this season with eight goals in all competitions and Rashford is behind him with seven, so it was extraordinary that they were left out of the squad

Amorim could have sacrificed his values and included Rashford and Garnacho in the squad and that would have improved United's chances of winning.

That would have sent the wrong message and set the wrong tone in the first weeks of his tenure, though. The reason the pair were left at home will no doubt come out in time.

Mason Mount, who was replaced after 14 minutes due to injury, and Amad started alongside Rasmus Hojlund and the game was crying out for a change in the second half.

Having Rashford and Garnacho on the bench - they may have started - would have made a huge difference but Amorim had just Antony and Joshua Zirkzee as attacking alternatives.

City started to apply pressure in the closing changes and Amorim finally freshened up the attack up when he introduced Antony and Zirkzee with 13 minutes to play.

What happened next was stunning. Amad won a penalty, which Bruno Fernandes converted, and then scored himself with a world-class finish just minutes later to seal a 2-1 victory. Thousands of City fans left the ground and chants of "You're getting sacked in the morning" came from an ecstatic away end.

Amad has wrestled minutes away from Rashford and Garnacho at times this season and he showed why again in emphatic fashion on Sunday. Against the odds, the youngster inspired United to a special comeback win on enemy soil and he was mobbed by his teammates.

What were Rashford and Garnacho thinking as they watched from home? United might not need the pair if Amad continues to perform. He is enjoying an outstanding season.