Manchester United delivered a 7-0 mauling of Barnsley in midweek, with 20-year-old Alejandro Garnacho pulling the strings.
If there was one thing missing from an all-round complete performance, it was the restrained approach Erik ten Hag took with the academy players.
Toby Collyer did start as a fill-in left-back, his first start for the club, yet this was also determined as a snub for Harry Amass, who starred in his natural position in pre-season.
Ethan Wheatley did make the bench, having made his debut last season. Yet with United 5-0 up, Erik ten Hag decided to send on Joshua Zirkzee instead.
It was a missed opportunity for Wheatley, still awaiting his first appearance of the season.
Ethan Wheatley still in training
Rasmus Hojlund made his return to first team training this week, after suffering a hamstring injury in pre-season.
Hojlund is United’s number nine and will go straight into the first team squad when fit. Wheatley’s window to make an impact has just got smaller.
Yet Erik ten Hag has made it very clear to Wheatley that the window is not closed, still left ajar.
Wheatley was seen in the first team training session less than 24 hours after the Barnsley game, showing he is very much still in the picture, even though Rasmus Hojlund and Mason Mount adds to the competition for places in attack.
Harry Amass still involved too
Harry Amass is still involved too, a nod to how highly United regard him despite his wait for a chance.
Amass is only 17, and it is a mark of how far he has come already that many have expected he would have made his debut by now.
Erik ten Hag is protecting him by holding him back if he is not quite ready, while keeping him around in first team training.
United named Amass in the Europa League squad, and just like with Wheatley, while the Barnsley game did not provide chances for them, cup competitions could still bring an opportunity later in the season.
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