Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag took questions from journalists at a press conference on Friday afternoon.

The pressure has increased on Ten Hag over the last few weeks and some believe it's likely he'll be sacked in the summer, but he's fighting for his future and players are still behind him.

Although Sheffield United twice took the lead at Old Trafford earlier in the week, United won 4-2 and the result got them back on the right track at the business end of the season.

United will face another side in the relegation zone, Burnley, this weekend and the fixture represents an excellent opportunity to claim back-to-back Premier League wins.

Ten Hag looked ahead to that game, he took questions on Marcus Rashford after his social media activity on Thursday night and gave an update on the relevant team news.

Recap every word from Carrington.

Ten Hag reacts to Rashford social media post

Erik ten Hag has "sympathy" with Marcus Rashford but stressed he can "do better" amid his poor form for Manchester United.

Rashford quote-tweeted a supportive post from a fan account on Twitter at 12.36am on Friday morning and wrote: "I appreciate your support! It is abuse and has been for months. Enough is enough."

The 26-year-old was booed by United supporters when he was substituted during the FA Cup semi-final at Wembley and Coventry players were staggered by his poor performance.

Rashford has been disciplined twice by Ten Hag this season for off-pitch activities and he has only scraped eight goals, having tallied a career-best 30 last term. Rashford received a steep salary hike with a new five-year contract in the summer but friction has developed between the academy graduate and matchgoers this season.

"I've a lot of sympathy for Rashy, of course," Ten Hag said. "Last year, he had a brilliant season. I think the best season in his career, he scored 30 goals. You see what he is capable of.

"This season, he didn't give the performances and people have been very critical. We have to back him and everyone should back him to get back to the levels of last year.

"I think he needs the support. We all know what he's capable of, we all have to support and push him. He can do better than this year. We saw last year when he was really brilliant.

"I think the fans are behind us always. We are entering Old Trafford, I heard the reception. Wednesday was louder than I have heard. Also away: always supportive, backing the team and there is a very good connection between the team and the fans."

Rashford's place in the England squad for the European Championship is uncertain as he only played 15 minutes in their defeat to Brazil last month and he was not used in the draw with Belgium three days later.

(Image: Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)

Three United players set to return from injury

Mason Mount will return to the Manchester United squad for the Premier League visit of Burnley on Saturday.

Mount has missed the last two games with an unspecified injury and he has not started a league match since October 7.

The England international is the only returning player for United's final game of the month but United manager Erik ten Hag revealed Lisandro Martinez, Luke Shaw and Anthony Martial have resumed outdoor training.

Martial has not played since December 9 due to illness and then groin surgery, Shaw has been sidelined with a hamstring strain since February 18 and Martinez has been out with a calf strain since March 30.

"So same squad but apart from Mason Mount. He will return into the squad," Ten Hag said. "Yes, I think we will see them (Shaw, Martinez and Martial) all in the season.

"They all returned onto the pitch. Next week, they have to make the step into team training and they can be available for the last weeks. They progress well."

United will be without seven defenders again against Burnley and Casemiro is set to start his third match running at centre half alongside Harry Maguire.

Shaw, Martinez, Tyrell Malacia (knee), Victor Lindelof (hamstring), Jonny Evans (knock), Raphael Varane and Willy Kambwala are all still out.

(Image: 2023 Visionhaus)

That's a wrap

That's it from today's press conference.

Ten Hag on Shaw, Martinez and Martial

"Yes, I think we will see them [Shaw, Martinez and Martial] all in the season. They all returned onto the pitch. Next week, they have to make the step into team training and they can be available for the last weeks. They progress well."

Ten Hag on team news

"So same squad but apart from Mason Mount. He will return into the squad."

Ten Hag on United fans

"I think the fans are behind us always. We are entering Old Trafford, I heard the reception. Wednesday was louder than I have heard. Also away: always supportive, backing the team and there is a very good connection between the team and the fans."

Rashford continued

"I think he needs the support. We all know what he's capable of, we all have to support and push him. He can do better than this year. We saw last year when he was really brilliant."

Ten Hag on Rashford

"I've a lot of sympathy for Rashy, of course. Last year, he had a brilliant season. I think the best season in his career, he scored 30 goals. This season, he didn't give the performances and people have been very criticial. We have to back him and everyone should back him to get back to the levels of last year."

Here we go

Updates from Ten Hag to follow.

Not long now

We'll bring you quotes from Ten Hag very shortly.

The MEN's interview with Alan Keegan

Have you listened to the latest Manchester is Red podcast special?

What time is the press conference?

We'll bring you quotes from Ten Hag at 1.30pm, which is the embargo time today.

Rashford fires three-word United 'abuse' message

Marcus Rashford has taken to social media to call out 'months of abuse' in a message to his United critics.

The 26-year-old is going through a barren run of form, scoring just twice in his last 10 Premier League games. He is on course to have his second-least productive year since 2018.

His personal form has coincided with a serious drop-off in results for Erik ten Hag's side, who face a battle to secure a place in the top six. Rashford, who continues to be linked with a move away from Old Trafford this summer, has also only started one league game that United have won since February 24.

The England international was taken off during the FA Cup semi-final collapse against Coventry City on Sunday, leaving the field shortly after Haji Wright's equalising penalty. Disgruntled fans at Wembley Stadium booed as he made his way off the pitch.

He was then left out of the group named by Ten Hag for the eventual 4-2 victory over Sheffield United in midweek with a suspected injury. And taking to social media shortly after midnight, Rashford hit back at those who had been abusive towards him.

"I appreciate your support!" he wrote in response to a positive tweet defending him. "It is abuse and has been for months. Enough is enough".

Rashford has been subject to specific criticism from several high-profile Manchester United fan pages online. User @UtdParadigm was keen to back the Wythenshawe-born forward, though. "The way Marcus Rashford is being treated is absolutely disgusting," they wrote on Twitter/X. "It's cruel. It's abuse."

Marcus Rashford of Manchester United looking on (Image: MI News/NurPhoto)

Welcome

Hello and welcome to Erik ten Hag's live press conference blog ahead of Manchester United's game against Burnley at Old Trafford this weekend.

United won 4-2 against Sheffield United in midweek and have another great opportunity to claim three points against Burnley, who are in the relegation zone.

Stick with us as we build up to the press conference.