12 Erik ten Hag says his injured players are "desperate to play" ahead of tomorrow night's last home league game of the season against Newcastle United.

Addressing the media at the pre-match press conference, Ten Hag was asked for his response to Wayne Rooney's statement at the weekend that players might be declaring themselves unfit to save themselves for the cup final. First he said about Marcus Rashford:

"He trained and tried to train last week but he didn't make it. Players are desperate to play, they want to be in the right shape.

"I think you have to see here in Carrington the players are desperate to play. I see Licha Martinez, I see Bruno Fernandes - he did a fitness test on Sunday to play. Marcus Rashford did everything he could do.

"Lindelof and Varane are training to make themselves available for the final. They do what they can do."

The manager was then asked a brutal question; whether he thought tomorrow's game might be his farewell appearance at Old Trafford as United manager.

"Goodbye? For me? It's not how I feel it and how I see it," he replied.

Ten Hag also said his beleaguered squad would salute the fans at the end of tomorrow's match.

"Through good times and bad times we are together and the fans show it, that we are together. So we will do a lap of honour.

"The fans understand this club is in a transition and the fans understand the huge problems we've had to face and especially positions in key areas."

In the earlier section of the presser, Ten Hag had revealed that Lisandro Martinez will be in tomorrow's squad as he starts his comeback from injury. On this he added:

"When he is fit his standards are high and he is an absolute leader for us, a warrior who has the right spirit. He is a very important player in our defensive line and we missed him across almost the whole season.

"I think especially on the pitch, we need him. There he shows his spirit and it is there he is a warrior if he is fit."

Tomorrow's match kicks off at 8pm at Old Trafford.