While Manchester United continue with their protracted pursuit of Barcelona's Frenkie de Jong, another midfielder is hoping to impress Erik ten Hag on the club's pre-season tour.
James Garner, back from a successful loan spell at Nottingham Forest, where he helped them finally gain promotion to the Premier League, sat out the first two games of the tour with a slight injury. He is set to return to training with United on Monday in Melbourne and is hoping to play some part on the tour and prove to Ten Hag he deserves to stay with the first-team squad next season.
A loan – potentially back to Forest – may be the most likely outcome for Garner, but the 21-year-old is determined to show what he can offer on tour before a decision is made on his future. Tuesday’s game with Crystal Palace at the MCG may come too soon, with the final tour match against Aston Villa in Perth on Saturday a more realistic target.
“Unfortunately, I picked up a little injury on the first day which has set me back until now,” said Garner. “I’ve been in the gym and I’m back training from Monday, so hopefully I’ll get a chance to play.”
Sunday was the only day off for United’s players on their two-and-a-half week pre-season tour. Ten Hag has brought a new-found intensity to United's training, with double sessions and detailed team meetings on tactics, formations and shape.
The morning after Friday night’s 4-1 win over Melbourne Victory at the MCG, United's players took part in a two-and-a-half hour training session at the AAMI Arena, next to the stadium.
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United winger Anthony Elanga admitted the amount of information players were having to take on board and process was “enormous” as Ten Hag seeks to change the way they play. The forward said: “We need to buy into his details and this new philosophy of playing and his managerial style.
As well as working on patterns of play, attacking in the final third and playing out from the back, there has been a big focus on improving United's fitness levels. “We know we weren’t as fit last season,” Elanga added. “We're even fitter this season, we're running for the team, running off the ball and running with the ball.
“That’s one of the things the manager has brought into the team. I feel like the whole team can press. It’s all in the mind - if you want to do it you can do it.”
Meanwhile, Anthony Martial’s United future remains unclear after the forward returned to the club following a disappointing loan spell at Sevilla, where he scored just once in 12 appearances.
Martial has impressed on United's tour, scoring in both games, with the striker and boss Ten Hag suggesting the France international may stay put at Old Trafford this season.
“I’m really happy to be back with Manchester United,” Martial told fans at a Q&A event in Melbourne. “I was really happy to score the two goals and I hope I’ll do the same in the next game.” With Cristiano Ronaldo absent from the tour for family reasons, Martial is currently the only realistic option to lead United's attack.
