Man Utd boss Erik ten Hag has six stars with a point to prove in two week break

Like every other manager in the Premier League, Erik ten Hag will be hoping his Manchester United players return unscathed and fully fit from the international break. But playing for your country could also be an opportunity for several players to pick up some much-needed form.

United have a bunch of players in desperate need of using the next two weeks to pick up their performance levels. All eyes will once again be on Harry Maguire for England, who made his first appearance for United this season in their dramatic 3-1 defeat to Arsenal.

Maguire had the opportunity to leave for West Ham in the summer transfer window, but he wanted to stay at Old Trafford and fight for his place. Victor Lindelof, Lisandro Martinez and Raphael Varane remain ahead of Maguire in the pecking order, meaning his best chance of proving himself will come on the international stage for England.

Gareth Southgate still favours Maguire in a back four and will be expected to feature in games against Ukraine and Scotland. Scott McTominay is in a similar situation to Maguire as he will also be hoping for big minutes for Scotland.

He was left out of United’s matchday squad for their trip to Arsenal and has only made two short cameo appearances off the bench so far this season. He usually fares much better on the international stage though as he’s been a huge part of Scotland’s push to qualify for next year’s European Championships.

In a group including Erling Haaland’s Norway as well as Spain, Scotland sit top having won all their four games. Both Antony and Diogo Dalot will also be hoping to build up some form for Brazil and Portugal respectively.

Ten Hag has used the pair of them a lot to start the campaign, but they’ve struggled to impress. Antony in particular has come under fire for his lack of composure in the final third as he’s scored just one Premier League goal in 2023.

He’ll have a chance to change that for Brazil in matches against Bolivia and Peru.

Dalot too will be hoping the international break comes at an opportune moment in his bid to dislodge Aaron Wan-Bissaka as Ten Hag’s preferred right-back. United’s match against Arsenal was also a chance to see summer signing Rasmus Hojlund for the first time and he showed promise in his short cameo.

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The international break will be a chance for Hojlund to build up some momentum with Denmark, but Ten Hag will want the striker’s minutes managed. Finally, there’s new signing Sofyan Amrabat, who joined United on loan on deadline day.

United fans will have to wait until their match against Brighton to potentially see Amrabat pull on the red kit. But Amrabat should be in action for Morocco in their Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Liberia as well as their friendly against Burkina Faso.

The 27-year-old will want to impress his new club straight away and the international break is a chance to do just that. The main thing Ten Hag will want is for everyone to return fully fit with their Champions League campaign getting up and running shortly after the international break.

But getting some of their fringe players as well as those out of form up to speed would certainly be an added bonus.

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