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.
ALSO READ: Jadon Sancho is running out of Manchester United excuses
Against Chelsea on Saturday evening, U21s trio Facundo Pellistri, Zidane Iqbal and Alejandro Garnacho were all named on the bench. While none of the youngsters managed to get on the pitch, the fact that Ten Hag chose to include them among the substitutes shows that they are all getting closer.
Had the game against the Blues been different, one or two of them might have been given some minutes. However, as it turned out, it was a tight encounter, and the Reds needed a late Casemiro header to salvage a point right at the death.
While Garnacho has amassed five senior appearances for the Reds - three of which have come this term - Igbal has registered just one, with Pellistri yet to feature for the first team. The U21s side is littered with talent, but for many, these three look the most likely to force their way into first-team reckoning at the moment.
Despite the youth side's underwhelming start to their season, there have been a number of impressive individual showings already this campaign. Although Ten Hag is yet to utilise the academy as much as some supporters would like him to, he is certainly aware of what is at his disposal, and will definitely have been taking note.
United will play six more matches before the season pauses for the upcoming World Cup in Qatar. The Reds will face off against West Ham, Aston Villa and Fulham in the Premier League, Sheriff and Real Sociedad in the Europa League and Villa once again in the EFL Cup.
The Premier League, in many ways, will just take care of itself. United need to keep picking up results and no one could blame Ten Hag for sticking with his senior players for the top-flight games. However, with the Reds in a good position in Europe after their promising start, it provides the Dutchman with the chance to use some of his fringe players.
Similarly, in the cup game against Villa, United can afford to be brave with their selection - and can give their youngsters some valuable minutes. The EFL Cup could prove to be an important competition for the Reds and would be a well-received piece of silverware at the end of the season.
Evidently, then, a mix between youth and experience is vital, but if Ten Hag is not prepared to select any of the academy stars during a hectic pre-World Cup schedule, there is certainly a fair case to argue that they will struggle for game time this term.
For Garnacho, Pellistri and Iqbal, it is vital that the trio continue to provide the United manager with a tough decision when it comes to naming his bench. They have to impress in training, perform for the youth team and deliver whenever they get their chance for the first-team.
The gruelling schedule will, undoubtedly, provide Ten Hag with an opportunity to use his squad, it is down to the players to show that they deserve to feature.
READ NEXT:
