It has been a packed season so far for Manchester United and it shows no sign of letting up.
After the conclusion of the international break, a period of 12 games in just 37 days lies ahead.
That takes in the conclusion of the Champions League group stage and the EFL Cup quarter-final against Everton.
Add in eight Premier League encounters as United try and get themselves out of the bottom half and the run-in to Christmas looks very hectic indeed.
Taking into account the curtailed pre-season, there looks set to be plenty of squad rotation in the weeks to come.
In June, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer praised the depth of quality at the club.
Speaking to the BBC after the 2-1 FA Cup win at Norwich, he said ‘it is great to have the option to rotate’ and namechecked Odion Ighalo’s ability to help him do that.
This came before the signings of Alex Telles, Donny van de Beek and Edinson Cavani, who have bolstered United across the pitch.
Just says later, Bruno Fernandes was quoted by Goal being effusive in his praise for the depth of United’s midfield options.
That squad depth is about to be tested with a game a shade over every three days.
Solskjaer settled on a first eleven at the end of last season, but they were run into the ground and shattered by the time Sevilla won that Europa League semi-final.
He has tinkered with systems and personnel in recent weeks with varying success.
The pressure is on to effectively manage the squad now. That means keeping players fresh and happy with their gametime while gaining a measure of consistency which has been elusive this term.
- Michael Carrick could still implement Sir Alex Ferguson’s Man Utd ‘plan’ for post-World Cup, he saw it in action
- Godwill Kukonki now has extra motivation to sign a long-term Manchester United deal
- Senne Lammens already knows how to conquer his World Cup setback and answer is in his first Man Utd words
- Tynan Thompson’s transfer is not a gamble by Man Utd, £1m steal in 2025 is the success template
- Man United fans have made up their mind about selling Lisandro Martinez after his World Cup final injury
- After watching World Cup final, I saw Marcus Rashford ‘smokescreen’ lifted after £76m-rated player’s impact
- Man United have a centre-back pairing for the next decade, Michael Carrick needs to test it in pre-season
- Marcus Rashford and Kobbie Mainoo have both matched World Cup milestone of three other former Man Utd players
- Tynan Thompson’s style of play explained, what Man Utd fans can expect from wonderkid signing
Receive a digest of our best United content each week direct to your mailbox
