Leeds fixture postponement has given Erik ten Hag an unexpected Manchester United challenge

Confirmation of Manchester United's Premier League tussle with Leeds United at Old Trafford this coming Sunday being postponed was never going to go down well.

However, both clubs and each set of supporters received the news they had been fearing early on Monday evening. The Premier League confirmed that, despite fixtures resuming this weekend, United's clash with their arch-rivals from West Yorkshire will not be going ahead, with insufficient policing available cited as the reason for the postponement.

Police officers from all over the country are having to be redeployed to London over the weekend as the country prepares for the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II on Monday. It is set to be one of the biggest security operations the country has ever witnessed.

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While the situation is unprecedented and cannot be helped, it is a hammer-blow for United, as they would have targeted the Leeds fixture as an ideal way to try and sign off for the international break in style. Instead, a much more low-key affair in Moldova against Sheriff Tiraspol in the Europa League will signal the end of their first section of the season.

After last Sunday's trip to Crystal Palace was called off as a mark of respect in remembrance of the late Queen, United, by the time they resume their Premier League campaign in the derby against Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium on October 2, will have gone exactly a month without playing in the league. A two-week gap for the international break threatened to damage United's recent momentum, but a four-week hiatus is likely to leave Erik ten Hag facing an even bigger challenge, even if the extended period without a game