The 11 Manchester United representatives remaining at the World Cup can rest easy, going off the form of this XI.
United were 2-0 down in the 13th minute to Cadiz and those afforded their first start under Erik ten Hag may have already had their last as far as competitive encounters go. They only lasted a half.
Some of the prodigies who emerged were more dynamic than almost all of the starters. Cadiz beat the rookies with an average age of 18-and-a-half by the same scoreline as the starters.
Read more: United player ratings vs Cadiz
Kobbie Mainoo, arguably the most complete talent of last season's FA Youth Cup winners, equalised minutes into his maiden senior appearance.
Mainoo, 17, is a more muscular presence than the gangly conductor of the youth team's midfield and the physical change has not compromised his nimbleness. Though his shot was deflected in, Mainoo's directness earned the luck. Ten Hag could be seen instructing Mainoo to advance as midfield partner Charlie Savage held the fort. Ironically, Savage erred to let Cadiz in to score a fourth.
Only two of United's World Cup participants have returned to Doha airport and one is Facundo Pellistri, who is still to make his club debut. That ought to have been ample motivation for the shadow side, yet Aaron Wan-Bissaka - on his first start under Erik ten Hag - went through the motions and Brandon Williams is not yet consistent with the pattern of play United are striving to settle on.
Williams' truculence was all too familiar in conceding an unnecessary free-kick in the eighth minute that Carlos Garcia nodded in with ease. On the other side, Wan-Bissaka was utterly disengaged for Cadiz's breakaway that was hardly at a breakneck pace. Choco Lozano was unattended to divert the ball well out of Dubravka's reach.
More involved personnel highlighted their peripheral status. Scott McTominay, captaining United, fumed at Anthony Elanga's failure to kill a fizzed pass, gesturing that he use his chest. Donny van de Beek, neither here nor there again, also despaired at Elanga's carelessness.
Four of United's starting XI had not started all season and Dubravka's sole appearance was in the League Cup. For Wan-Bissaka and Williams, the writing was on the wall some time ago but United need a body to support the indefatigable Diogo Dalot, who has now ousted Joao Cancelo.
Some of United's World Cup representatives are certain to fly back to Manchester by the end of the week and Ten Hag may selfishly hope the more the merrier. Burnley are due at Old Trafford in the fourth round of the League Cup in under two weeks and, peering up at the Premier League from the summit of the Championship, cannot be taken lightly.
Ten Hag can draw positives from the academy prodigies he has championed. Alejandro Garnacho was eager again and Zidane Iqbal played like a lad hard done by this season, probing to earn a penalty that Anthony Martial Panenka'd.
Iqbal, polished on the pre-season tour, has not had a competitive kick since his debut under Ralf Rangnick almost a year ago and the 19-year-old is in that corridor of uncertainty: too good for the Under-21s but with limited first-team opportunities.
Garnacho started on the right, a worthwhile trial amid United's struggles to settle on an alternative to Antony, absent for their last five matches. Garnacho elicited an 'ooh' from the Spaniards with a nutmeg in the second minute by drifting to the left and his role was never fixed.
Ten Hag had seen enough of United's reserves by the pause and introduced an entirely new outfield side for the second-half, with unofficial debuts for Mainoo, Marc Jurado, Tyler Fredricson, Sam Murray, and Noam Emeran.
An enthusiastic crowd blaring airhorns congregated outside the Estadio Nuevo Mirandilla, with United supporters sprinkled among the home section for a welcome winter jaunt to southern Spain. Some vainly attempted to familiarise the locals with their songbook. Some got into the World Cup spirit by unfurling an Argentina flag.
The stadium was still half-empty on the first day of no World Cup fixtures and it remains to be seen whether Saturday's fixture with Real Betis at 5pm receives a bump from Spain's ejection by Morocco. Spain were due to kick-off at 3pm against Portugal.
United visited Spain last month in splendid San Sebastian and will return in February for a glamour tie against Barcelona in the Europa League. The away-dayers have been drawn accessible breaks in the coldest months of winter back home and red, white and black bar scarves were visible on the hushed beachfront.
Cadiz, second from bottom in La Liga, are unlikely to host United on a competitive occasion any time soon, so half-and-half scarves were specially knitted and programmes printed for the occasion.
Although the starting XI won't add much value.
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