Erik ten Hag has admitted defeat with one Man United summer signing

Out of the five Manchester United signings brought in by Erik ten Hag this summer, just one started Sunday’s game at Aston Villa and only Leny Yoro had the excuse of injury.

Fans are hoping he will show more assurance than Matthijs De Ligt, who only took to the field at Villa Park due to Harry Maguire’s injury, following a difficult opening few months. Noussair Mazraoui was the sole new recruit to begin the match but arguably only did so due to a full-back injury crisis.

Diogo Dalot continues to fill in at left-back amid the ongoing setbacks to Luke Shaw and Tyrell Malacia, but would be the first choice at right-back when either returns. Joshua Zirkzee was always going to be the back-up when Rasmus Hojlund recovered from injury.

READ MORE: Sir Alex Ferguson leaves Old Trafford after attending Manchester United meeting with Ineos

READ MORE: Manchester United lining up Thomas Tuchel to replace Erik ten Hag

He came on in the second half which means he has yet to score in nine games. And then there’s the case of Manuel Ugarte, the £42million deadline day arrival.

Hopes of him being the answer to the Casemiro problem have markedly dwindled over the past three games. Having been run ragged in the 3-0 defeat to Tottenham, the 23-year-old has failed to play in the two United games since.

The theory of rest being the reason behind his full-game benching against Porto on Thursday proved unfounded by full-time on Sunday, with Ten Hag once more leaving him on the touchline.

The manager had instead started Christian Eriksen alongside Kobbie Mainoo and replaced the latter with Casemiro, the man Ugarte was supposed to usurp, in the second half. It seems, for now, Ten Hag has admitted defeat with Ugarte.

Of course, it is very early