After being handed just his second Premier League start of the season against Bournemouth at Old Trafford on Tuesday night, Donny van de Beek, in the minutes leading up to kick-off, must have been licking his lips.
Manchester United went into the clash with the Cherries on a five-game winning run, brimming with confidence and in the knowledge that they were going up against a side that had lost six of their previous seven league matches. Manager Erik ten Hag, though he would never admit it, seemingly felt that his side, whoever he included in his starting line-up, would have more than enough to get the better of the relegation-threatened outfit.
The Dutchman made four changes for the visit of Gary O'Neil's side, three of which were surprising to say the least, with Harry Maguire, Victor Lindelof and Van de Beek all awarded rare starts. Marcus Rashford was the other player to come into the team after he stepped off the bench to score the winner at Wolves and put himself back in the manager's good books.
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While Maguire and Lindelof helped United record a fourth successive clean sheet in all competitions, Van de Beek was back inside the dressing room before referee Michael Sailsbury had even whistled for half-time. The midfielder's right leg buckled under a challenge from Bournemouth defender Marcos Senesi, resulting in squeamish-looking images of the challenge being quickly shared on social media.
It was a horrible-looking position for Van de Beek's leg to find itself in, and he now faces a spell on the sidelines, although United are not yet sure on the severity of the injury. Asked if he knew how long Van de Beek would be sidelined for ahead of Friday night's FA Cup win over Everton, Ten Hag said: "Not really, we are still doing investigations - it's a knee injury."
Although no timescale has yet been put on Van de Beek's absence, early indications suggest that he is not likely to return soon, planting yet another dagger into his Reds career. Since joining United from Ajax in September 2020 he has made just 60 appearances for the club, either side of a shortloan spell at Everton in the second half of last season.
After United appointed Ten Hag as their new manager back in April, almost every supporter was optimistic that by being reunited with a manager that he knew inside out from his time at Ajax, Van de Beek's Reds career would take off this season. It has not been the case, highlighted by the fact he has made just ten appearances in all competitions.
Following the departures of Jesse Lingard and Juan Mata at the end of last season, United's attacking-midfield options were significantly reduced, leaving just Bruno Fernandes to occupy the No.10 berth. Ten Hag, though, speaking on the pre-season tour in Australia back in July, confirmed that he considered Van de Beek's best role to be the attacking-midfield position.
Although, admittedly, he has not had a fair crack at the whip to prove it, his performances in the role against Real Sociedad and twice against Aston Villa (Premier League and Carabao Cup) suggested otherwise, highlighted by his tally of just 58 touches of the ball across those three games. He failed to influence any of those three fixtures from the position.
Against Bournemouth, however, Van de Beek was playing well in same the role up until being forced off. Despite him starting, Fernandes did as well, but was moved out to the right-wing, paving the way for his attacking-midfield counterpart to fill his natural role.
Fernandes is United's senior No.10 and architect-in-chief, meaning that position is his to occupy and work his magic from. But in the event of him ever being unavailable, either through injury or suspension, particularly if Van de Beek faces a long spell on the sidelines, the Reds are limited on options. Christian Eriksen would be the most logical candidate to fill the position, moving forward from his slightly deeper role, but Ten Hag, just as he proved when Fernandes was absent through suspension for the 3-1 defeat to Villa prior to the World Cup, does not want to disrupt the Dane's partnership with Casemiro.
It means United, without Fernandes, are significantly lacking options in the No.10 position. Zidane Iqbal has shown flashes of brilliance in friendlies under Ten Hag, but it is hard to imagine him making the leap from hardly ever getting into the matchday squad to starting in the Premier League at this stage of his career.
With that in mind, United risk being left short on options in the attacking-midfield berth, meaning they could be forced to deep into the transfer market for an unscheduled signing. It is certainly one they may have to consider.
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