Cristiano Ronaldo concern could actually lead Manchester United to their next great striker

Since the end of the season, a number of Manchester United players have been away on international duty.

Erik ten Hag's United will begin pre-season on June 27th, but he has conceded that players who have been away on international duty will need at least three weeks of rest. However, there are still question marks over whether this will be enough time for them to recuperate ahead of what will be a gruelling first campaign under the Dutch manager.

Ten Hag's intense training sessions, however, are just the start of the problem. With an international break in September and the 2022 Qatar World Cup starting in November, the fixture congestion will likely lead to burnout issues within the squad.

In the past, one flaw of Ten Hag's management has been his reluctance to heavily rotate his teams even when it is clear that certain players need a rest. He will need to learn this if United are to make positive steps in the 2022/23 season.

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One position where this will likely become a problem is up top. Cristiano Ronaldo is 37, and though he has claimed that he has the body and fitness levels of someone much younger, having to play two games a week throughout the entire season will likely take its toll.

Ronaldo suffered a goal drought last season when Ralf Rangnick was first appointed and many fans theorised it was due to him needing to play 90 minutes in most games, with Edinson Cavani's constant injuries and Antony Martial being loaned out meaning Rangnick had a severe lack of options. When United exited the Champions League and their fixture list thinned out a little, the Portuguese forward significantly improved.

So what are United's