Considering just how well Manchester United have started their pre-season preparations, you could be forgiven for forgetting that only one new signing is currently with the squad in Australia.
Tyrell Malacia, snapped up from Feyenoord, was the only new face that United manager Erik ten Hag left Manchester Airport with almost a fortnight ago, sparking fears that his first pre-season in the Old Trafford managerial hot-seat might not prove to be as productive as fans had hoped. But although we're only three games into the Ten Hag era, the early signs have been overwhelmingly positive.
Ten Hag has seen his side win their opening three friendlies, score 11 goals, concede just twice and, most importantly, play with hunger and desire. United already have a likeable swagger about them, even if it is important to remain grounded after encounters with a much-changed Liverpool side, a Melbourne Victory side they should be beating, and a largely unrecognisable Crystal Palace outfit.
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But you can guarantee that had United lost those games, or, alternatively, scraped through them, criticism would have been rife. They deserve a sprinkling of praise.
Against Palace at Melbourne Cricket Ground on Tuesday, United had a real zip and energy about their play, particularly in the first hour, moving the ball with purpose and turning the screw when in advanced positions. Just as they did against Liverpool and Victory, they flooded bodies forward into the opposition penalty area, highlighting exactly why they have scored 11 goals on the tour so far.
United's second goal against Palace, which was converted by Marcus Rashford, came as a result of United's attacking players combining brilliantly, with Bruno Fernandes, Donny van de Beek, Jadon Sancho and Anthony Martial, who had earlier scored United's opener, getting involved in the play, adapting to the possession-based style Ten is looking to implement. The first goal, however, came as a result of right-back Diogo Dalot committing himself and offering a helping hand in the final third - and not for the first time.
The Portugal international, who is entering his fifth season as a United player, has been one of the surprise stars of the pre-season tour so far, forming a promising partnership with Sancho down the right. Although he remains vulnerable defensively - as highlighted by how he struggled to contain Liverpool's Luis Diaz in Bangkok last week - he is proving that he can deliver the attacking qualities that Ten Hag is looking for in his full-backs.
The Dutchman wants his full-backs to push high up the pitch and play, pretty much, on the very edge of the opposition's 18-yard box. Martial's strike against Palace, which was his third in as many games, came as a result of Dalot having pushed up high and connecting with Malacia's cross from the left. At the time of bringing the ball down, Dalot was actually inside the penalty area, highlighting how much of an onus there is on the full-backs to push up high.
It was a similar scenario for Martial's goal against Victory last Friday, where Dalot's low cross, which required a small touch from Anthony Elanga to help it on its way, was turned home. He is quickly establishing himself as a player that could thrive in Ten Hag's plans and way of playing. Furthermore, considering he failed to register a single assist last season, it is clear that Ten Hag is already having a positive impact on his confidence and way of playing.
Defensively, as outlined above, Dalot is not the strongest. However, for how Ten Hag wants his full-backs to operate, he is ticking all of the right boxes this pre-season.
Aaron Wan-Bissaka's future remains up in the air, with it more than possible that he could yet leave United this summer, meaning a replacement would need to be sourced. However, there are no guarantees that a replacement would arrive at Old Trafford and walk straight into the starting line-up at Dalot's expense.
He has laid down the gauntlet inside the opening three games of the Ten Hag era and, just as several others have, has raised his game significantly. It remains early days, but the former Porto man is threatening to transform his United career under the new regime.
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