Yet in among the kids has been at least one experienced face, chatting on the bench, offering advice as they limber up, but hardly ever getting on the pitch. What has happened to Christian Eriksen? The 32-year-old has now been an unused substitute in eight of the past nine games. In the last two of those, Ten Hag has essentially started four central midfielders, but he hasn't turned to the Denmark international at any point. Against Manchester City and Everton, it is Scott McTominay who has come into the team and Sofyan Amrabat who has come off the bench.
With Mason Mount now edging closer to a return to fitness, Eriksen's chances are likely to shrink further.
The only one of those last nine games that he came off the bench for was the 2-1 defeat to Fulham when he was given 37 minutes.
If Mount returns to the squad soon then there will be room for both on the bench, with Toby Collyer likely to drop out, but it seems clear Eriksen is unlikely to be called upon, with Ten Hag drifting away from the idea of using the former Ajax midfielder's range of passing and control.
This story is from the March 12, 2024 edition of Manchester Evening News.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the March 12, 2024 edition of Manchester Evening News.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
COME AND JOIN US
SILVA URGES UNITED TARGET NEVES TO PLAY ALONGSIDE HIM AT ETIHAD
Now's the time to make Red Jar-RAID
THOSE on Merseyside are baffled by Jarrad Branthwaite's omission from the England squad.
Gareth could get Reds job...with bit of luck
IF you were to hand Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Sir Dave Brailsford a blank sheet of paper and ask them to draw up their perfect United plan, you would get some intriguing answers.
Grealish must use pain for his gain
THE wind at Selhurst Park was so ferocious on a sunny April afternoon that it was sending Jack Grealish's hair left, right and backwards but that wasn't going to stop him making his point.
City warned Prem chiefs will fight hard
CITY have been warned that the Premier League cannot afford to back down in their upcoming hearing over financial regulations.
I had to leave for Barcelona, it was a no-brainer
TORRES HAS NO REGRETS OVER CITY DEPARTURE
Peet keeps relaxed as Warriors prepare for cup final
WIGAN COACH SAYS HE ENJOYS WEMBLEY COUNTDOWN
Palestine state in Labour manifesto
RECOGNITION of Palestinian statehood as part of any Middle East peace process will be a Labour manifesto pledge, Sir Keir Starmer confirmed as party figures met to sign off on the final policy document.
FROM TINY STUDENTS' PARTY TO UK'S TOP CITY MUSIC FESTIVAL
HOW PARKLIFE GREW FROM ITS HUMBLE ORIGINS TO HOST AN AUDIENCE OF 80,000
"There's nothing like that here'
OLDHAM RESIDENTS SLAM FARAGE CLAIM THERE ARE AREAS OF TOWN WHERE NO ONE SPEAKS ENGLISH