When Zidane Iqbal headed back to the dressing room following the conclusion of Manchester United's 1-1 draw with Rayo Vallecano at Old Trafford in their final pre-season friendly last July, he probably didn't think that would be his last first-team appearance.
However, despite producing a handful of promising performances during the pre-season tour of Thailand and Australia, he has not earned a single minute of first-team football this season. The Iraq international has not made a competitive appearance for United since in the 1-1 draw with BSC Young Boys in the Champions League in December 2021, which marked his debut.
Considering he looked so sharp and bright during pre-season, Iqbal is bound to have been left feeling frustrated with the lack of opportunities given to him by Erik ten Hag. He has been on the substitutes' bench on 17 occasions this term but has not once been called upon by the Dutchman.
