Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has suggested that his decision to drop Jesse Lingard from the squad to face Watford was not performance-related.

Playmaker Lingard has been heavily criticised during the majority of the season due to a poor return in the final third.

However, despite claims that Solskjaer has been left unhappy with the Englishman's contribution, the United boss insists that the call which he made on Sunday was to boost his options from the substitutes' bench.

Speaking to MUTV, the Norwegian said: "Well we picked a squad of 18 that we felt was the right 18 here. We have got cover on the bench; wide men, forwards, midfielders, and defenders. That was the decision I made."

United prevailed by a 3-0 scoreline courtesy of goals from Bruno Fernandes, Anthony Martial and Mason Greenwood.