Erik ten Hag explains why Manchester United's top four chances have increased

Erik ten Hag believes Manchester United's elimination from European competition could aid their efforts to finish in the Premier League top four.

United finished bottom of Champions League Group A with four points, which also meant they avoided a Europa League play-off in February as they did not come third.

A fixture quirk has left United with a maximum of three games to play in January, with only one in the Premier League at home to Tottenham.

United have a two-week winter break in the New Year while they could only have five fixtures in February as they prepare for free midweeks.

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United have recorded 30 cases of injury or illness among their squad members already this season and Ten Hag has repeatedly stressed the enforced changes have compromised the team's form.

"Yeah, I think the way you describe it, that's true," Ten Hag said of a possible benefit. "We have had so many injuries in the first part of the season but now we have less games so the load will be less and that can give players the opportunity to recover. We will have more time on the training pitch and we can be fresher in the games.

"Of course [it can help]. That (top four)’s the target."

Rasmus Hojlund is still without a Premier League goal as Christmas approaches but he ended the Champions League group stage as the joint-top scorer on five goals, along with Manchester City striker Erling Haaland and Atletico Madrid duo Antoine Griezmann and Alvaro Morata.

Hojlund, 20, did not have a single touch in the Bayern Munich area during United's 1-0 defeat in midweek. He has started nine times in the