Manchester United announced their traveling squad for the next leg of their pre-season tour to the USA where they will play three games.
Just as expected, it gives some hints about where players stand in the eyes of the manager, with some cementing their ascent, and others can feel a little frustrated.
Many senior players are back as well, which means Erik ten Hag will have the opportunity to implement his game model with a nearly full-strength team.
Here are the top five takeaways from the squad, including one exciting youngster’s future looking decided-
Last-chance saloon for Aaron Wan-Bissaka
With rumours swirling over the future of Aaron Wan-Bissaka, perhaps it is a little surprising that he has been called to travel with the squad.
Even more so because Habeeb Ogunneye performed well in both the pre-season, arguably looking better than him in either.
Ogunneye can feel frustrated at not getting more games to impress Ten Hag but it looks like his future is decided. He can expect to go out on loan along with Joe Hugill, who also misses out and is expected to join up with Wigan Athletic soon. That brings us to…
The 2024/25 loan army
Besides Ogunneye and Hugill, another big name, considering his performances in the pre-season, who is missing is Ethan Ennis.
Ennis flew under the radar a bit in the pre-season as returning players squeezed out academy wingers, but he was enterprising in attack and added urgency to the game vs Rosenborg when he came on.
It can only mean one thing, which is that United have a loan move in the pipeline for him as well. He has done well to come back from a serious injury and achieved previous levels.
Perhaps the best course of action now is to give him half a season with U21s to get him up to speed then send him on loan for his first taste of senior football in January.
“Amass”ive opportunity
Luke Shaw is still on extended holiday after England went to the finals of Euros, while Tyrell Malacia hasn’t been deemed fit to make the squad.
It means that Harry Amass and Sam Murray are the only two natural left-backs in the traveling squad. It is a huge opportunity for the young pair.
Games against Arsenal and Liverpool, especially, will be a huge test for them and impressing in those fixtures can ramp up their prospects for the first team.
It’s a massive opportunity for Harry Amass, in particular, who has long been tipped as a breakout star from the academy. He struggled in the first pre-season game against Rosenborg but one of United’s best players vs Rangers.
Meanwhile, Murray will look to give Ten Hag a decision to make with more composed performances.
Missing international block
It is mostly a team that was expected but the absences, which were also expected, will nonetheless frustrate Erik ten Hag still.
Seven players who went deep in Copa America and Euros are missing, and arguably six of them are starters in Ten Hag’s full-strength team.
Those six are- Diogo Dalot and Bruno Fernandes (Portugal), Luke Shaw and Kobbie Mainoo (England), and Lisandro Martinez and Alejandro Garnacho (Argentina).
Only Facundo Pellistri, who also played semifinals of Copa America is a fringe player missing from the squad. Ten Hag has nearly the full quota of players, but the ones missing are crucial.
Breakout stars in waiting
Toby Collyer has long been anointed as Ten Hag’s “one to watch” this season so his inclusion isn’t a surprise but his midfield partners’s inclusion shows how much some players benefitted from the two pre-season games.
Maxi Oyedele was arguably as good as Collyer, if not better, in those games and he has been rewarded with three more fixtures to continue his ascent.
His calmness on the ball and progressive passing set him apart from other United midfielders, especially as Mainoo is missing and Christian Eriksen has one foot out of the exit door.
He hasn’t been in the media noise as much as Collyer, but his impact might soon make him undeniable. It all starts in the USA vs Arsenal.