Erik ten Hag will be looking for his most experienced players to take responsibility when his Manchester United side play two friendly matches in Spain this week.
United begin their schedule with a clash against Cadiz on Wednesday night, before facing Real Betis at the weekend as part of their ongoing training camp ahead of the season's resumption in two weeks.
With so many senior stars still away on international duty, it will be an opportunity for United's brightest youngsters to catch the eye of Ten Hag, but most importantly, it is a chance for a group of senior fringe players to prove they have what it takes to be part of his project going forward.
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A key component of that will not come on the pitch this week, but rather away from it. Ten Hag has often spoken of the importance of 'attitude' from his players, and the first test comes regarding how they react to the training camp this week.
For senior pros, the trip to Spain might well be viewed as a hindrance given that lots of their teammates are instead away at the World Cup, but the United manager will be hoping those senior figures instead embrace the opportunity to impress him and go about doing so professionally.
The harsh truth is that for most of the experienced players, even if they do manage to impress this week, they will most likely lose their position as soon as those involved at the World Cup return to action.
It just might be a different case for Donny van de Beek, though. While many of his friends will be facing Argentina in a quarter-final on Friday night, the Dutch midfielder will likely be watching on from United's team hotel, preparing for his less glamorous friendly fixture the following day.
It's a strange dynamic that just about sums up his misfortune at the club, and while some supporters might have given up on ever seeing him succeed at the club, Ten Hag insists that he still hasn't.
When asked last month if there comes a point where United have to accept it hasn't worked with Van de Beek, Ten Hag replied: "Yes, but that can't be now.
"I know he can do better because I know (him) very well, but he delivered what I expected in terms of positioning and also pressing, in terms of transition. But I think he can do more and that's his biggest quality - he can be more of a threat to an opponent's goal.
"I don't know (why he has struggled). I can only talk about my time here. In my time here, he is performing well in the game-time we gave him."
The 25-year-old has struggled for consistency throughout his time at Old Trafford and has already spent seven weeks of the current season sidelined with a muscular injury that has limited his opportunities.
Given the condensed start to the campaign, Van de Beek has been limited to just seven appearances so far this campaign due to that injury, so there is still an argument that he hasn't quite had the time to reach match sharpness yet.
Even that feels like clutching at straws, though. Ten Hag has praised his compatriot throughout his time at United, but the former Ajax midfielder has struggled to make much of an impact even when he has featured this season.
It is in nobody's interest to perpetuate the issue even longer, and this season really does feel like make-or-break for Van de Beek before a final decision is made on his future by the end of it.
There is still a belief that it would be best for club and player if he were to be moved on permanently next year and go to a club where he can rediscover the enormous talent he has, but Ten Hag seems certain to give him more chances before then.
"He can do both [play deep and high], I know that from the past," the United manager insisted during pre-season. "His best position is in the box of the opponent and playing just behind the striker. He has a really good smell for being in the right position."
Indeed, all of Van de Beek's starts under Ten Hag have come playing as an attacking midfielder, and given the lack of senior options at the warm-weather camp this week, it seems certain the Dutchman will feature there again in both matches.
Once again, though, even that might be in vain. Bruno Fernandes is quite clearly the preferred option in the attacking role and has been largely undroppable this season, particularly since taking on captaincy duty.
Van de Beek is second-choice at best, a role that needs filling, but is still perhaps not the one he should be occupying at this stage in his playing career when he is desperate to reclaim his international spot.
The harsh truth is that no matter how well he plays this week, it will hardly impact his standing in the United hierarchy when others are back, but if he fails to deliver again, then it only gives Ten Hag more reason to end his time at the club next year instead.
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