Erik ten Hag's next test is his biggest yet at Manchester United

From Sunday, the next six days will be a good gauge of Manchester United's development. Then on the seventh day they are due at Stamford Bridge.

Newcastle, Tottenham and Chelsea - current top six sides - is an intriguing triple-header for a squad that required a 93rd-minute goal to overcome Omonia Nicosia at Old Trafford. Mercifully, there are no more Europa League interruptions for a fortnight.

To paraphrase Oscar Wilde, to stumble to victory over Omonia once may be regarded as a misfortune but twice looks like carelessness. United had 65 attempts at the Cypriots' goal across two games and only four were fished out of the net.

Also read: What Uzoho said to Ten Hag

It would be remiss of United to dismiss the Omonia performances when they faced two different goalkeepers who both cast a hex on most of their attackers. United were not ruthless enough at Everton, either, inviting pressure in the dying embers and indebted to Raphael Varane for preventing Jordan Pickford from connecting with a corner.

There are recurring issues: United have one reliable goalscorer and Cristiano Ronaldo has started more games on the bench. Antony's performance level is too fitful, Marcus Rashford remains prone to profligacy and they miss Anthony Martial.

All four of Erik ten Hag's substitutions had an impact on Thursday night and his coaching cachet has risen since last week. A United substitute has scored in their last four games, with all three winners coming off the bench.

"The good thing is the team keep going," Ten Hag stressed. "They don't give up, believe in [scoring] and in the end get their reward."

United have shown laudable belief since their pummeling in the derby and Scott McTominay had the mettle to recover from a