Ten Hag discusses full-back situation
Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag expects Tyrell Malacia and Harry Amass will provide competition for the left-back slot, as the season progresses.
The Reds hope Luke Shaw will be available to show his class in the position after returning from injury to help England reach the Euro 2024 final, performing excellently in the 2-1 defeat to Spain.
However, Malacia is working hard on his fitness at Carrington, after missing the entire 2023/24 campaign due to injury, while the senior squad is on Tour 2024, presented by Snapdragon. The Netherlands international will continue his rehabilitation, while Amass is gaining experience all the time in the United States.
The 17-year-old may not be quite ready for Premier League combat yet, according to his manager, but the Academy youngster is on track to make a breakthrough at some point.
"Tyrell is now in a good place," Ten Hag told the press. "But he is not here because I only took players who could play games or be available for team training.
"He is not that far [off], but he is now in a progress situation. At a relatively short notice, he can again return into team training and then into team performance in games.
"I think it would be possible [to be available again] in two months."
The boss was also asked directly about Amass, who started the 3-2 win over Real Betis last time out, assisting our opening goal for Amad.
"We have to make progress but we all see here a potential where we have seen in previous years," admitted Ten Hag.
"For instance, two years ago, [Alejandro] Garnacho last season. We had it during last season with Kobbie [Mainoo], but he is not that far now at this moment.
"Yet, if we train him well, if we coach him well, then, in three months, it's possible that he can be on that point. But, in this moment, he needs to catch up and he has to develop some skills already to play for Manchester United, competing for the highest positions in the league.
"But, with big talent, it can go up very quickly and that is very interesting to see if he is capable of doing this."
United face Liverpool in the early hours of Sunday morning, UK time (00:45 BST), in the final game of the American tour.
Amass will be in contention to start again as we tackle Arne Slot's side in South Carolina, before returning home to prepare for the Community Shield against Manchester City at Wembley.
The Reds' Premier League programme begins on Friday 16 August, when Fulham visit Old Trafford.