Irwin feels United are entering the unknown

Our former full-back appreciates the Reds were in outstanding form ahead of the lockdown, going 11 matches unbeaten and recording a string of impressive results, including the 2-0 victory over City in the Manchester derby, our last league outing.

However, there will be no fans in the grounds for the remainder of the campaign and a whole new vibe around the behind-closed-doors fixtures, with the country still coming to terms with the effects of the coronavirus pandemic.

Whether United can hit the ground running again is the burning question but, with Paul Pogba and Marcus Rashford looking fit again, there is optimism we can perform well in a key contest to kick things off, at Tottenham on Friday night.

"It will be different," Irwin admitted to us. "I don't think there is any getting away from that. We've seen the Bundesliga get up and running and I'm really looking forward to the Premier League coming back, and football in general, with the Championship returning around the same time.

“Obviously, it's huge and the Premier League have done it the right way by taking little steps and making sure health is the most important thing.

“I'm really looking forward to it, as I think the whole country is. I really do.

"It is wall-to-wall football," he added. "On Wednesday, we've got a huge eye on things, even that first night, although we're not playing ourselves. Sheffield United are away to Aston Villa and Arsenal are away to Manchester City.

“So, the position we are in, chasing Chelsea in fourth, means there are people behind us, like Sheffield United, who are having a great year as a whole, plus Arsenal and Spurs.

“There is an awful lot to keep an eye on but we've got to look after ourselves and the first game is huge on Friday night for us.

"They don't come much bigger than that," he said. "From their point of view, they will feel they have to win if they are to try to compete for that Champions League spot and it was due to come at a time when we go back two-and-a-half months, when we were flying and Spurs were missing Harry Kane and a couple of others.

“I know we were missing Pogba and Rashford but we would have gone into the game with loads of confidence. It's different now, the first one in, and you never quite know.

“It's a big game for us, it really is. The selection is down to Ole, isn't it? The players have kept themselves fit all the time and been in training for a few weeks. So, hopefully, everyone is in the same boat. The match sharpness might not be there but both teams have had friendlies. 

“You look at that first week or so and there are some big games there. It would be great if we won and got up and running; it really would give us huge confidence.

“I don't like saying this but, on paper, if we get over that, you look at the next six or seven games favourably. But you know it's not going to be like that. It's going into the unknown again almost. It's a big game and I'm just looking forward to football, in general, returning."