As the Premier League returns this weekend, so does the focus and attention on the red side of Manchester. Although Manchester City have dominated the headlines during the international break, it is easy to forget that, given the position Manchester United find themselves in, they could be one more disappointing result away from a storm of questions over whether Michael Carrick is the right coach to steer them through it. That is why the next week, and indeed the whole of October, feels huge for United.
A home encounter against a winless Spurs side on Saturday is followed by away trips to Atletico Madrid, Leeds United and Como, before the month finishes with Bournemouth and Chelsea. But on the flip side, this is an opportunity for Carrick and his side to kick-start their season. The United head coach has pointed to a series of unfortunate events that have contributed to the club's slow start, but there will be less empathy as this next phase of the season begins.
Carrick has been reluctant to address his team's underperformance in his media duties, but he will hope the international break has done his squad a world of good. The positive is that plenty of players have had time to address their form, fitness and perhaps even their confidence. Matheus Cunha is a good example.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player Fair to say the Brazilian has looked slightly off it this season. That may be partly down to playing through the middle rather than in his preferred left-wing position, but with Cunha not called up by Brazil, he has had time to reset after a disappointing start. The better news for Cunha is that, with Amad Diallo also now fit, Carrick can finally reshuffle an attack that has failed to look threatening despite some impressive offensive statistics.
Amad's return on the right means Bryan Mbeumo can move back through the middle, while Cunha could have a fascinating battle with Marcus Rashford, pending his fitness, for the role on the left. Carrick has been limited with his attacking options so far, partly because of Benjamin Sesko's lack of availability, but he now has the options to change the look of his side if he chooses to do so. Friday's news conference with Carrick will be really interesting, not just to hear his thoughts on Manchester City's situation and how he has been impacted as a former player, but because the team news ahead of Saturday's encounter with Spurs will be key.
Carrick does not tend to give too much away in his pre-match news conferences, but with the number of concerns and question marks over his squad, just how many options will he have at his disposal on Saturday? Noussair Mazraoui and Patrick Dorgu both left their international sides due to injury, while there are still question marks over Marcus Rashford and Kobbie Mainoo after they pulled out of England duty, alongside Benjamin Sesko with Slovenia. Amad, as mentioned, is one.
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