Erik ten Hag talks up Manchester United duo yet to start a game this season

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Erik ten Hag has talked up Brandon Williams and Facundo Pellistri ahead of Manchester United’s FA Cup clash with Reading.

Neither player has started a game yet this season, with Pellistri getting two substitute cameos in the EFL Cup against Charlton and Nottingham Forest so far.

Williams’ only appearance this term was a five minute introduction in the same competition against Burnley, as he continues his battle back to full fitness.

At his pre-match press conference, Ten Hag was asked about Williams and whether there is any prospect of him going on loan before Tuesday’s transfer deadline.

Ten Hag on Pellistri and Williams

When asked if he would consider loaning Williams out, Ten Hag said he is a fan of the player and that is a possibility: “Definitely for Brandon. He had a bad injury, he’s on the way back, he was in the pre-season for the restart and now he’s in the squad. He was also in the selection for last Wednesday at Forest so he’s really a part of it.

“It’s also a little bit up to him but I like him. We have to work with him and see where his developments can go. That is also about him, to find the moment where he can deserve his chance and take his chance. But when he wants a loan, we have to talk about that.”

In a separate interview with club media, Ten Hag said of Pellistri: “Pellistri is now coming in. Now he also gets the experience to be in men’s football.

“He did some really good stuff and we’re happy with that but also I hope he knows that he has to step up to be often chosen, to be often on the pitch and so by deserving that position. Therefore you have to perform every day and every minute you get.”

Today’s game looks like it might be an opportunity for United to really rotate the squad in the middle of an absolutely frantic period of games.

But Ten Hag has taken every single game seriously since he took over and you would expect him to do exactly the same here.

United need silverware as soon as possible and Chelsea and Arsenal have been eliminated from the FA Cup already ahead of the fourth round.

It remains to be seen whether Pellistri or Williams will get a first start of the season today, but it seems the former is staying beyond the end of the transfer window, while the latter is far more likely to depart on loan.