Marcus Rashford was replaced at the break during Manchester United’s Europa League game at Porto.

A new theory has emerged after Erik ten Hag ruthlessly replaced Marcus Rashford at the break during Manchester United’s game at Porto.

Rashford opened the scoring in his side’s Europa League clash against Porto on Thursday.

However, his outing in Portugal was cut short after he was substituted during the interval, with Alejandro Garnacho coming on.

After the match, which ended 3-3, Ten Hag played down the change, claiming it was down to rotation.

“We have to rotate,” he explained. “Garnacho, we didn’t start him, but he’s had a good season. We have another hard game on Sunday, so we need players to be available and fresh.

“We go quickly to [Aston] Villa [on Sunday], they have a day longer, we had an away game.”

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Like Ten Hag alluded to during his post-match interview, Man United make a swift return to action as they travel to Birmingham to face Aston Villa in a huge Premier League fixture on Sunday.

But Don Hutchison isn’t convinced with the Dutchman’s explanation behind his treatment of Rashford, speculating there could have been an argument at half-time to prompt the substitution.

“I’m not buying it. I’ve been in dressing rooms at half-time, full-time and before games and it’s one of those where Erik ten Hag – and I’m not questioning him, because he knows his players and what’s gone on – I’m surmising from an ex-players’ point of view,” he said.

“Marcus Rashford was playing really well and looked sharp in the first half. So at 2-2, are you going to tell me that he’s been taken off because Ten Hag’s got an eye on the Aston Villa game? If you’re winning 2-0 or 3-0 and you take him off because you’re trying to protect the player and give him fewer minutes going into the Villa game, that’s totally understandable.”

Marcus Rashford was hooked by Erik ten Hag at half-time. Image: Getty

The former Liverpool, Everton and West Ham United midfielder added: “But while the game’s in the balance at 2-2 in a big game, I don’t buy rotation, so I wonder if there’s been some sort of conflict or argument at half-time. That can happen.

“That’s what I’d be leaning towards. I could be wrong, but that’s what I’m leaning towards.”

Rashford, who has four goals to his name this season, looked like a threat against Porto before being hooked.

It remains to be seen whether he’ll keep in his place in the starting XI for the league tilt against Villa.