Nottingham Forest are being warned that the season pausing for the World Cup will have helped manager Erik ten Hag 'refine' Manchester United ahead of the Reds' trip to Old Trafford.
After a wretched start to the season, Man United have lost just twice since mid-August and recovered to sit fifth in the Premier League table before the season's pause. While they did have 13 players at the tournament, almost triple the number Forest had away, it did afford Ten Hag a second training camp with some of the squad mid-way through the new manager's first season in charge.
Reds head coach Steve Cooper also enjoyed a similar opportunity to further settle the club's summer signings. Whether the tournament has been a help or a hinderance, as Premier League pundit Mark Lawrenson puts it, for Forest remains to be seen.
