The will all feature”: Erik ten Hag reveals he could field strongest Manchester United attack for the first time vs Sheffield Unite

Erik ten Hag could point to several factors influencing Manchester United’s dismal start to the season and key absences would be high on the list.

Up until the 93rd minute against Brentford on Saturday, United were on course to extend a run to seven defeats in 11 matches across all competitions. It was only Scott McTominay’s quickfire added time brace that gave Ten Hag a vital three points and alleviated the pressure going into the international break.

The reliance on McTominay to net the vital goals is somewhat telling, with United against struggling in front of goal. In the Premier League this season, five teams have at least double their meagre total of nine in eight games.

There are several potential explanations for that issue, with key performers from last season not playing as well. But with United now two months into the season, it cannot help that Ten Hag hasn’t yet been able to start his strongest front three together.

Rasmus Hojlund was United’s marquee signing of the summer, arriving in a £72million deal from Atalanta. But the 20-year-old’s medical assessment found a stress fracture in his back and he was ruled out for the first month of the season.

He arrived off the bench for a much-anticipated debut in the 3-1 defeat at Arsenal in September. Having come on in the 67th minute, he got a grand total of 17 minutes alongside Antony and Rashford before the former was substituted. And during the international break that followed, the Brazilian took a leave of absence to address allegations of abuse against him, which he strongly denies.

Antony returned against Galatasaray but has only managed to claim two appearances off the bench since. He got six minutes against Galatasaray and 28 against Brentford.

Rashford has been ever-present but many supporters might suggest he shouldn’t have been. Last season’s top goalscorer and talisman has just one goal to his name and has looked largely ineffective.

But an encouraging early relationship is already forming with Hojlund, who is the natural presence up top that Rashford has been craving. And perhaps the Dane is exactly what Antony needs as well.

The former Ajax man lacks the pace or directness to affect games when picking up the ball in the middle third, but that had largely been his role without a pure No.9 to bring him into play further up the field. Hojlund, both with his back to goal and running in behind, has already shown he can drag defenders apart and open up those gaps for wingers to cut into.

He is not only the kind of striker Rashford craves but also the one Antony does. Neither winger have been anywhere near their best so far this season but Ten Hag will hope Hojlund’s presence will help them both. He is yet to start that trio, but could finally get his chance at Sheffield United.