Erik ten Hag can't forget Manchester United's unsung hero in his starting XI

The first and only time Fred started at the base of the Manchester United midfield he miscontrolled a pass from David de Gea, was dispossessed and Diogo Jota equalised for Wolves.

It took two-and-a-half years and a change of manager for United to realise Fred is more of an asset further forward. Under Ralf Rangnick, he scored key goals to earn seven points in the Premier League and his probing passes against Aston Villa and Brentford unlocked breakthroughs.

Michael Carrick, an ideal observer, tweaked Fred's position in his first match in caretaker charge and Fred's pressing enabled Cristiano Ronaldo to lob in the winner against Villarreal. A little over a week later, Fred teed up Bruno Fernandes and won the decisive penalty to defeat Arsenal in the last night of Carrick's 15-and-a-half-year United career.

Fred was one of a handful of United players to emerge from last season's wreckage unharmed. It was not his best season but it was his most progressive, a campaign where he broke from the shackles of Solskjaer's risk-aversive approach and scored as many goals as he had in the previous three seasons. Fred remains a starter for Brazil after a productive Copa America, despite a chastening final performance against Argentina.

The 29-year-old is no shrinking violet, though nor is he the bouncer to mind the entrance. Liverpool have Fabinho, Manchester City Rodri, N'Golo Kante and Mateo Kovacic hold the fort for Chelsea, Antonio Conte has fleshed out Tottenham's spine with Yves Bissouma and Thomas Partey is among Arsenal's nucleus to build a credible team around.

"Fre-Fre" is not as catchy as "McFred" but Frenkie de Jong and Fred have potential in the same United midfield. De Jong is a master of controlling games for sustained