It’s been a mixed bag for Manchester United before the international break.
Having finished in third position last season - as well as getting their hands on a trophy - the club recruited well in the market with Andre Onana, Mason Mount and Rasmus Hojlund all signed for £180million combined. United then added four more players on deadline day - including on-loan Fiorentina star Sofyan Amrabat.
At home, back-to-back wins against Wolves and Nottingham Forest have not been fully convincing, while Erik ten Hag and his squad have been defeated twice in North London already. United were swept aside by Tottenham last month, but did show one or two promising moments in a losing cause against Arsenal.
While his star names are away at various locations for their respective nations, Ten Hag will no doubt be glancing back at what has gone right and wrong, so far, this campaign. Here are three main winners and losers;
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Winners
Andre Onana: Despite one or two question marks, the goalkeeper is a much better fit for Ten Hag’s system than De Gea could ever be, without discounting what the long-serving Spaniard achieved in 12 seasons at the club. The returning Cameroon international has been calm and composed with the ball at his feet and, once he gets properly accustomed, Onana should prove to be a shrewd acquisition at £47million.
Aaron Wan-Bissaka: Perhaps the best performer for United in their opening four matches. Defensively, there has never been a concern for the ex-Crystal Palace right-back. It was always his attacking output that raised eyebrows, but a match-winning assist for Raphael Varane vs Wolves will have done no wonders for his confidence. Settling on his first-choice right-back was a dilemma for Ten Hag, but Wan-Bissaka has that shirt locked down.
Marcus Rashford: Following his quiet start to the campaign, Rashford has looked re-energised since moving back to left-hand perch he prefers and United should see the best from him there. He broke the deadlock in the Arsenal game with a trademark finish in the transition after being found by Christian Eriksen with (usual) pinpoint precision. How the Academy graduate dovetails with Hojlund will be paramount to their chances.
Losers
Anthony Martial: Injury hampered his pre-season preparations, and the 27-year-old was ineffective in any games he has been fit enough to play in. Hojlund, arguably, did more in 23 minutes against Arsenal than Martial had in the 67 minutes he was handed. That seems an almost-certain change to the starting XI moving forward when their star names return from international adventures here, there and everywhere.
Jadon Sancho: Did anyone see that coming? Ten Hag dropped Sancho from the matchday squad for his form (or lack of) during training sessions and the ousted England forward hit back to deny those claims. Ten Hag is thought to stand by his initial comments and the whole thing is at risk of becoming a bit of a mess. Either way, it could be a tall order for Sancho to get back into the good books, but he can start at Carrington!
Donny van de Beek: Poor old Donny. It just hasn’t worked out for Van de Beek since his dream transfer to United three years ago now. Deemed surplus to requirements this summer, the club had no takers for him and the former Ajax playmaker has one possible escape route before the January window swings open. United are waiting on any possible interest from Turkish clubs still active in the market.
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