Manchester United have made a positive start to life under Erik ten Hag during his first six months in charge but the Dutchman is keen to strengthen his squad further over the next two transfer windows.
Ten Hag cleared out a lot of deadwood during the summer and splashed more than £200m on new signings, but there are a number of players already on the club’s books who have impressed of late and can still be of use at Old Trafford.
Mirror Football takes a look at which players will be hoping to work their way back into Ten Hag’s plans over the next six months, following impressive loan spells and World Cup campaigns.
Harry Maguire
An impressive World Cup with England, in which he helped to keep three clean sheets in five games, has put Maguire right back in contention for a starting spot in the north west. Along with Luke Shaw and Marcus Rashford, Ten Hag said all three had been “performing magnificently” for the Three Lions.
With first choice centre backs Raphael Varane and Lisandro Martinez still away on World Cup duty, Maguire is expected to start against Nottingham Forest on December 27, where he has a huge chance to impress Ten Hag and carry his World Cup form into the Premier League.
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Fred
Central midfielder Fred has found regular game time harder to come by this season following the arrivals of Christian Eriksen and Casemiro, but after four appearances at the World Cup to help Brazil reach the quarter-finals, his luck at United could soon change.
Although he started just two of those four appearances, Ten Hag has been casting a watchful eye over the Brazilian nonetheless. After impressing alongside Casemiro for Brazil, the Dutchman could reconsider his midfield partnership when United’s domestic campaign gets back underway.
Dean Henderson
Dean Henderson will not be recalled in January from his loan spell with Nottingham Forest but if he continues his impressive early season form with the Premier League newcomers, he may well salvage his career at Old Trafford next season.
With David de Gea nearing the end of his contract and Martin Dubravka not expected to be retained, Ten Hag is already on the hunt for a new goalkeeper. However, Henderson can prove why he may not have to look anywhere else if he helps Forest avoid relegation.
Amad Diallo
United youngster Diallo endured a tough loan spell with Rangers last season but a return up north with Sunderland in the current campaign has been a totally different story for the Ivory Coast international.
Following a slow start to the campaign, Diallo has now registered five goals and one assists in his last seven appearances for the Black Cats. If he keeps up his form, he may well be handed his chance to impress in the first team next season.
Hannibal Mejbri
Midfielder Hannibal Mejbri will probably have to wait until next season to add to his three Red Devils appearances but a “phenomenal” loan spell at Birmingham this season, in the words of Blues boss John Eustace, has provided him with all the first team experience he needs.
After struggling for minutes at the World Cup with Tunisia, the 19-year-old will aim to hit the ground running in the second half of the 2022/23 campaign in order to prove that he is ready to be part of Ten Hag’s squad next season.
Ethan Laird
Right back Ethan Laird was tipped to breakthrough into United’s first team this season but he was instead sent back out on loan to QPR, where he has recorded three goal contributions to help the Championship outfit up to ninth and three points outside the play-offs.
With Aaron Wan-Bissaka set to be sold and Ten Hag on the hunt for a new right back to provide competition for Diogo Dalot, Laird’s impressive form this season could see him handed an opportunity to break into the first team next year.
