The fixture schedule ahead of the World Cup in November and December was always going to be gruelling, and it is proving to be exactly that.
If you were to ask a top-flight professional footballer what they think to this season's football calendar, the reply, especially at the top level of the division, is likely to be that, in simple terms, there are just too many matches. For players competing in all available competitions, there is the possibility of playing upwards of 70 matches this term.
While the schedule has not gone down well with some, it does certainly have its benefits. One of those - and an extremely important one - is the opportunity it provides for younger players to get on the pitch. For United, there are a number of youth team stars knocking at the door, and they are bound to get their chance to shine.
