Breaking news: Ralf Ragnick has finally opened up on mason Greenwood’s future at the club .

 Manchester United's new interim boss 

opted against starting Mason Greenwood 

for his first game at the helm at home to 

Crystal Palace, though he still managed

 to have an impact

Manchester United  interim manager

Ralf Ragnick conceded  Mason Greenwood

 is a player he would 'love' to select from

 the start more often - but he has to earn it. 

The young striker was omitted from 

Rangnick's first starting eleven in charge of 

the Red Devils, though was eventually brought

 on just after the hour mark. 

Greenwood immediately made an impact 

on proceedings, calmly assisting the much

-maligned Fred for the only goal of the game

 despite being harried by a number of Crystal

 palace of  defenders. 

Given Rangnick is thought to favour a 

4-2-2-2 formation, Greenwood could find 

himself enjoying plenty of game time under

 the former RB Leipzig Boss as he is more-

suited to a central role rather than occupying 

the right-flank - as was often the case under

However, Greenwood has been warned 

that despite the new manager adopting a style

 far more suited to his own, he will still have 

to fight for his place in the side.

"Mason [Greenwood] did so well at the 

start of the season," said Rangnick. 

"I think he scored three or four goals in the 

first three games, he’s a very gifted homegrown

 player and I would love to give him more game

-time in the future.

"But, of course, he has to deserve his game

-time in training and, therefore, it was good to 

have him on the bench and bring him on the 

pitch."

Rangnick's wording in his assessment of 

Greenwood is interesting, particularly the 

word 'deserve', as it allows room for speculation

 that the England international has potentially

 let his standards slip in recent weeks.

Earlier in the season, when goals were flying 

in at a rapid rate for the 20-year-old, he was

 the subject of praise from a man who knows

 all about finding the net for United.

"Ronaldo has adjusted his game now that 

he has got older. He is a more of a centre

-forward now.

"But when he was younger he was left,

 right, cutting inside, shooting, and this is what

 Mason is doing at the moment and he's 

very good at it.

"So I hope he can go and ask Ronaldo 

for advice and just observe; see how he 

prepares, how he trains, how he stays after 

training sessions to train on the free-kicks 

and this cutting into the box and shooting

"And for the moment, Mason is deserving. 

Nobody is giving him anything, he is deserving

 what he is getting with his performances and 

his goals and I want to see him playing as 

much as possible."

Three months down the line, Greenwood 

has seemingly taken a step back in his 

development, reduced to cameo appearances

 off the bench with less than half an hour 

to go.

Only those around Carrington will know if 

Rangnick's decision to bench the youngster

 stems from a lack of effort on the forward's

 part, but the German has left the door open 

for Greenwood to play his way back into a 

starting spot.