Even their first-day triumph at Old Trafford over Fulham was close, and Joshua Zirkzee’s late-game heroics were crucial.
After Casemiro’s difficult workday against their bitter rivals the previous game, United supporters will be itching to see 23-year-old Manuel Ugarte enter the lineup. Ugarte was not registered in time to play against Liverpool before the international break.
With very little pre-season under his belt, ten Hag has suggested Ugarte ‘needs to build his fitness’ having also opted to introduce Zirkzee and Matthijs de Ligt to the side gradually with roles off the bench in the first two games of the season.
Ugarte did get 79 valuable minutes under his belt for Uruguay on Saturday and is expected to be involved in the game against Venezuela on Tuesday night.
But the long trip back to Manchester in time for Saturday’s early kick-off could mean a role on the bench.
Injury problems have been another headache for ten Hag with Rasmus Hojlund, Luke Shaw and Leny Yoro still to feature this season.
While the latter is not expected to be back until November, Hojlund is close to being available again having returned to training at Carrington before the international break.
The Dane suffered a hamstring injury in a pre-season clash with Arsenal.
Shaw meanwhile has been sidelined with a calf injury with a club statement in August suggesting he would be available following September’s international break.
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