Ten Hag has three reasons for optimism at Man Utd despite tought start to season

Raphael Varane will resemble a white knight to Erik ten Hag if he returns to the Manchester United team this weekend.

Varane has missed the last three games, all of which have been crushing defeats. In these matches United have conceded 10 goals, not to mention let in three or more goals in the same number of successive games for the first time since 1978. To put this into perspective, back then a lot of United fans hadn't even been born, James Callaghan was Prime Minister and Boney M were at No.1 in the hit parade. Back to 2023 – and recent history tells United that when Varane is not in the back four, Ten Hag has a major problem.

Victor Lindelof is nowhere near good enough to be operating at the level United currently are, let alone want to get to. Lisandro Martinez, meanwhile, has endured a miserable start to the new season and looks a pale shadow of the no-nonsense centre back he was in his first campaign at Old Trafford.

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Ten Hag was without 10 injured stars for the midweek defeat at Bayern Munich in the Champions League. And the most important one of all to be missing was Varane.

United have not even specified what Varane's injury has been. But what we do know is that the World Cup winner is head and shoulders the best defender United have on their books.

He returned to training in the build-up to the clash in Munich and is expected to go straight back into Ten Hag's side for the trip to Burnley on Saturday night. A cold and wet night at Turf Moor wouldn't be high up on Varane's wish-list, but Ten Hag needs him – because defeat to the Clarets is unthinkable.

Ten Hag could also have Mason Mount back in the fold. Mount, who joined United in the summer from Chelsea, has missed the last four games with a muscle problem.

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He didn't take part in full training earlier this week, but is said to be close to coming back and could be named in the squad this weekend along with Sofyan Amrabat, who is also nearing full fitness.

United resemble a sinking ship right now – and Ten Hag needs all hands on deck. Good news has been hard to find in recent weeks, but the imminent return of these three at least gives the Dutchman more reasons to be cheerful.

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