Erik ten Hag won't get what he wants at Manchester United until at least January

Erik ten Hag barely had a selection decision to make at Manchester United last season and nowhere was that more true than central defence.

Confirmation of team news an hour before kick-off became almost a formality and Ten Hag was reluctant to rotate. Any debate was usually centred around who should start at right-back and whether Wout Weghorst deserved to keep his place up front.

Marcus Rashford and Antony were nailed out wide, Casemiro would anchor Christian Eriksen and Bruno Fernandes while Luke Shaw would almost always play to the left of Lisandro Martinez and Raphael Varane. It was a simpler time.

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United were not without their injury problems and spent the latter weeks of last season with neither first-choice centre-back - both were injured in the Europa League quarter-final first-leg draw at home to Sevilla in April. But for the most part, that area of the pitch was set in stone and the pair developed an excellent relationship.

Things have not been so straightforward this season, specifically at the back. Martinez suffered a recurrence of that foot injury picked up in April and is expected to be out until after Christmas. Varane, 31 next spring, has struggled for both form and fitness. Victor Lindelof has been in and out while Jonny Evans and Harry Maguire fill the gaps.

"What we have to work on is a stable starting XI, at least with 12 or 13 players," Ten Hag explained on Friday when asked how he plans to improve performances. "Then the routines will be better and more chances will be coming.

"Getting more to starting XI, 12, 13 players, you can rotate so you get routines in the team.