Erik ten Hag has been blessed with a deep squad at Manchester United, and now it is about time he used it. The Dutchman has yet to truly experiment with a line up since he took charge last summer, but with a packed fixture schedule ahead, he has a compelling argument to finally do it.
United's desire to win some silverware this season has seen experience favoured across all competitions, with Ten Hag largely reliant on a core group of players to keep those trophy dreams alive.
It was the same story in midweek, as a strong United side won 3-0 at Nottingham Forest to put one foot in the Carabao Cup final ahead of their second-leg next week.
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First up is the visit of Championship side Reading this weekend, meaning there are two opportunities to rotate the side in the days ahead and keep key players fit for the return to Premier League action.
One player who could prosper from the squad changes is youngster Facundo Pellistri. The 21-year-old has had to wait an age—two years, three months and five days—to make his debut for the club earlier this month, but is making up for lost time with his impact on the pitch.
Pellistri was expected to leave on loan during the ongoing January transfer window, but his performances have been so impressive that Ten Hag is now reluctant to lose a player who could have a role to play in the weeks ahead.
That role could see the Uruguayan winger make his full debut for the club in either of the upcoming cup games, though it seems more likely that he'd start in the second of them, given they already have a three-goal cushion.
There would have been a real sense of disappointment had Pellistri left the club again this month, without making a competitive appearance for the club, and based on his first few outings, it certainly would have been a huge mistake.
Pellistri has shone with his direct dribbling style and enterprising work rate, catching the eye as a traditional wide man who likes to burst towards the byline, offering something completely different to the inverted Antony.
"We have seen some physicality, he had some good movements, some good runs in behind, he has speed," Ten Hag said of his latest cameo in midweek.
"So he has to bring that in our game. I think he is a player who can play really good between the lines because he can be ball-secure, that he has to bring in our game.
"A little bit different, like a left-footed right winger we have with Antony and he is right-footed and his good chance he created was his cross for Wout Weghorst."
There is certainly a lot of promise and potential in the former Penarol hopeful, particularly in the different style of play he can bring to a United attack that has been rather one-dimensional at times this season.
What is still unclear, though, is just how good Pellistri really is. Just as his hype was built around the unknown quality of what he could offer in the first team, even his impressive performances have to be taken with a pinch of salt.
He has only played 30 minutes of football in the United first-team and those have come in matches that were already won, allowing him to play with freedom rather than the pressure of trying to influence a result.
The next step in his development plan has to be exposure to playing in a more intense environment, and that could well come in the shape of a first start for the club in the coming days.
It could well be that Pellistri remains a bigger threat when he is introduced as fresh legs to torment a tired defence, but even if that ends up being the case, it is only fair that he is given the chance to test himself against a fresh one as well.
Giving him a start in either of the next two matches could well lift the lid on how good Pellistri really is at this moment in time, though leaving him on the bench would perhaps send an even bigger message about where he is really at.
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