It is now only a matter of days before Manchester United play their first pre-season match. A month has passed since United tasted bitter defeat in the FA Cup final, and Erik ten Hag will be hoping to harness that disappointment as fresh motivation heading into the new season.
The truth is that while club football might officially resume next week, it is still a little while before the bulk of United's squad will be returning to the pitch. United play their first pre-season friendly against Leeds United in Oslo on Wednesday and take on Lyon in Edinburgh before travelling to the United States for their tour.
United have opted for a staggered return to training and will use the first couple of matches to work on fitness as much as anything before the real test begins when they fly out to the US.
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Those players who were involved in internationals last month are not due to report for pre-season training until later this month, meaning there will be plenty of opportunity for United's fringe players to impress in the coming weeks.
Anthony Martial and Jadon Sancho proved a year ago that no matter how well they do in pre-season it will not guarantee any success when the season starts, and few would have predicted the permanent exit of Zidane Iqbal after he shone so brightly a year ago.
It means you must take any pre-season performances with a pinch of salt, and that certainly won't help the case of either Amad or Hannibal as they look to prove their worth to Erik ten Hag this summer.
The duo were both back at United's Carrington training complex on Thursday morning for the first day of pre-season training, and they are both expected to feature against Leeds next week.
Given the lack of senior options available, they could both get decent runouts in the opening friendly fixture, but it will be a tough ask for either of them to still get meaningful minutes when the senior stars are back.
It also feels like a big summer for Kobbie Mainoo after his first-team exposure last season, while Isak Hansen-Aarøen is also rated highly and will be hoping to feature in his homeland next week. Charlie Savage is back at Carrington, but it has been suggested he could leave on loan before the US tour begins.
Amad looks the most likely youngster to successfully make the transition to the senior set-up this summer, though there are still some big decisions to be made after his stellar season at Sunderland.
The 20-year-old won Young Player of the Year at the Stadium of Light but there are still concerns about his suitability for the Premier League, and another loan move might well be targeted this summer before he is deemed ready for a club of United's stature.
Amad at least has the bonus of being a natural right-wing option, something United have lacked for years and are still looking to find following Antony's inconsistent debut season.
There is also the temptation of even cashing in on Amad while his stock is high this summer, and although that is not currently the plan, it could certainly be considered if a big offer comes in for him.
It is a similar situation for Hannibal, who faces an uncertain future at the club as he returns following an impressive campaign with Birmingham.
He did not reach the same heights as Amad or Alvaro Fernandez, who shone at Preston, but he arguably has a greater reputation in the game than both and is still regarded as a top talent with plenty of room for growth.
United are not actively trying to sell him this summer, but they could entertain offers if they decide he is not yet first-team after the pre-season schedule. Borussia Dortmund are one of the sides interested in the Tunisia international.
Ten Hag has already made it clear that young players not up to his very high standards won't be given an opportunity, and only world-class prospects will be given a proper chance under him.
That is the challenge for those who will be given an opportunity this summer, and the tale of Iqbal from a year ago serves as a timely reminder of the elite levels they must reach.
We're about to find out if Ten Hag thinks United have any other youngsters with world-class potential.
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