Football
Rob Dawson, Correspondent 6y

Man United's Romelu Lukaku on bench for FA Cup final vs. Chelsea

LONDON -- Manchester United striker Romelu Lukaku has only been deemed fit enough for a place on the bench for the FA Cup final against Chelsea.

The 24-year-old, who has scored 27 goals this season, has missed the last three games with an ankle injury and despite undergoing treatment in Belgium has only been named among the substitutes at Wembley.

Marcus Rashford has been picked in his place in a forward line that also includes Alexis Sanchez and Jesse Lingard. Phil Jones is preferred to Eric Bailly at centre-back alongside Chris Smalling.

Jose Mourinho confirmed on Friday that David De Gea would start in goal while regular full-backs Antonio Valencia and Ashley Young are also in the team.

The midfield of Ander Herrera, Nemanja Matic and Paul Pogba is the same as the one used against Tottenham Hotspur in the semifinal.

Thibaut Courtois makes his first FA Cup start of the season in place of Willy Caballero, as Antonio Conte makes three changes to the Chelsea side that lost 3-0 to Newcastle United on the final day of the Premier League season.

Antonio Rudiger returns to the defence with Andreas Christensen dropping out of the squad because of a back injury, and Marcos Alonso comes in for Emerson Palmieri on the left and Cesc Fabregas starts in the middle of a 3-5-2 system.

Eden Hazard, making his 300th appearance for Chelsea in all competitions, is tasked with providing support for Olivier Giroud, once again preferred to Alvaro Morata up front.

ESPN FC Chelsea correspondent Liam Twomey contributed to this report.

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