The FA Cup is back this weekend, with defending champions Manchester United visiting Championship club Blackburn Rovers in the fifth round on Sunday afternoon (16:15).

The Red Devils, who defeated AS Saint-Etienne 3-0 on Thursday night at Old Trafford in their UEFA Europa League Round of 32 first leg tie, are also closing in on a top four Premier League finish having gone unbeaten in the top-flight since October 2016.

As for the hosts; Owen Coyle’s side are fighting for survival in the second-tier of English football, currently sat second from bottom and two points adrift of safety as they battle to stave off relegation to League One come May.

However, victories over Queens Park Rangers and Blackpool has seen Rovers move within just one game of the FA Cup quarter-finals, a welcome distraction from their Championship form.

Nevertheless, United will be heavy favourites to advance into the last-eight, defending their 2016 crown.

Here are THREE Manchester United players manager Jose Mourinho should give a start to at Ewood Park on Sunday…

Marcus Rashford

The England international is The Red Devils’ top goalscorer in the competition, having scored twice against Reading at The Theatre of Dreams back in January, before being benched against Wigan Athletic in the FA Cup fourth round.

Rashford was also left out of the starting XI as United defeated Saint-Etienne 3-0 on Thursday night, although he impressed when called upon in the last 20 minutes when his mazy run set-up Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s second goal of the game.

Mourinho willbe tempted to hand the 19-year-old a start against Blackburn, plus rest Ibrahimovic, who has scored 23 goals in all competitions this season.

Bastian Schweinsteiger

The 2014 FIFA World Cup winner has only made three appearances in all competitions for United so far this season, including just the one start under the ‘Special One’, coming in the previous round against Wigan.

But, the 32-year-old midfielder justified his starting spot as he scored and set-up another strike to help The Red Devils ease past The Latics 4-0 at Old Trafford, helping United draw Blackburn in the fifth round.

Schweinsteiger deserves another start at Ewood Park tomorrow, with Mourinho potentially able to rest the likes of Juan Mata, Paul Pogba and Ander Herrera as the club continues to fight on four fronts this season (Premier League, League Cup, Europa League and the FA Cup).

Wayne Rooney

The captain could be back with a bang after being rested against Saint-Etienne in the Europa League in midweek.

The 31-year-old, who has scored five goals in all competitions this term, has played every minute of United’s FA Cup defence so far, so Thursday’s exclusion is destined to mean Rooney will start against Blackburn on Sunday.

The forward has scored four times against Rovers since his move to Old Trafford from Everton back in 2004.