Why Aaron Wan-Bissaka missed Man Utd v Luton

Aaron Wan-Bissaka missed Manchester United’s Premier League game against Luton Town due to illness.

The defender was a surprise omission from United’s matchday squad on Saturday and, having recently returned to the team after a long-term injury, Wan-Bissaka had started the last two games at right-back. However, he was ruled out of United’s final match before the November international break, with Diogo Dalot starting on the right-hand side in his absence.

The Portugal international had played at left-back in the last two matches, but Sergio Reguilon took his place in the starting XI, one of two changes from the midweek loss to Copenhagen in the Champions League. The other alteration saw Victor Lindelof come in for the injured Jonny Evans.

Ten Hag opted once again to leave Raphael Varane on the bench, less than 24 hours after he implied the Frenchman cannot start at the heart of defence alongside Harry Maguire. “The build-up is not that fluid when one of them [Maguire or Varane] is playing from the left centre-back position because I think Licha [Martinez], obviously, Luke Shaw, obviously [are left-footed].

“Jonny Evans and Victor Lindelof are right-footed, but they can play really comfortably with their left and make the right angles, then you can construct a better formation where you can start to play.”

Ten Hag’s decision to keep Varane on the bench will only increase speculation about the Frenchman’s future, with reports on Friday stating he could leave the club at the end of this season.

Elsewhere, Ten Hag stuck with the same front six that had some early joy in Denmark on Wednesday. Christian Eriksen and Scott McTominay were named in midfield, behind the more-attacking Bruno Fernandes. In the attacking areas, United started with Marcus Rashford, Rasmus Hojlund and Alejandro Garnacho for Luton's first trip to Old Trafford since 1991.