Manchester United are heading into a hectic Premier League schedule over the upcoming fortnight, with matches against Newcastle, Tottenham and Chelsea.
Tonight the team face Omonia in the Europa League, and this is the ideal chance to give some game time to Fred, who has become a squad player this season instead of a recent starter.
Fred started 24 Premier League games last season. This season this figure stands at just two, the opening defeats to Brighton and Brentford.
He has started only one game since, United’s 1-0 defeat to Real Sociedad.
Fred likely to get his first Manchester United start in a month
Fred has been omitted from the last three Manchester United starting line-ups, left out against Manchester City, Omonia, and Everton.
He has amassed only 165 minutes of Premier League football this season. It is likely United may need to call on him during this testing upcoming stretch of games, and to do so, he needs to be sharp.
The best way to prepare Fred is to start him against Omonia tonight, a match United are strongly fancied to win.
Fred’s last game against Sociedad saw him start in an unfamiliar attacking midfield role. It wasn’t a great fit.
United may choose to deploy him in a more typical box to box role tonight, and give Christian Eriksen a well deserved rest.
Eriksen has started every game this season since joining the club. Erik ten Hag will want to use him in the upcoming three league games, and tonight is the right moment to give him a break.
With Fred, United have a player who cost £47 million and has racked up 166 games for the Red Devils so far. As an international regular for Brazil, he is a player who should be trusted against Omonia.
Fred needs to play games to prove his worth to Erik ten Hag, with his contract running down. He needs to show the Dutchman he is worthy of a new deal.
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