Erik ten Hag may have to deploy creative solution to Manchester United's deepening midfield crisis

Erik ten Hag has faced every challenge he's been confronted with since taking over at Manchester United head-on, with conviction and imagination. He may well have to call on that again this Sunday.

United will return to action following the international break and it will be no gentle easing back into things. The fixtures will be coming thick and fast with at least nine games in April already and a game against Chelsea to rearrange as well. But first up on Sunday will be a trip up north to face Newcastle United.

Ten Hag's side may have enjoyed a more comfortable afternoon than they imagined when the two sides met at Wembley last month but the Magpies are back to full strength after a difficult period, won their last two outings before the break and are gunning for a fourth spot currently held by Tottenham.

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It would be a difficult game at the best of times but United will travel to Tyneside severely depleted. Raphael Varane missed the victory over Fulham with a knock, Alejandro Garnacho will be sidelined for a while yet and Anthony Martial's return date is not known.

That's before you even get to the really troubling midfield, which United could be down the barest of bones in. Donny van de Beek is out for the season, Christian Eriksen is making progress but is still a month away from his expected return date and Casemiro is suspended for another three games.

But just when you thought it couldn't get any worse, it seems that Marcel Sabitzer is also dealing with an issue. The Austrian missed the matches with Real Betis and Southampton earlier this month with an unspecified injury before returning to score against Fulham.

Sabitzer was in action for Austria