Manchester United and Erik ten Hag face seven games in four weeks that will shape their season

As summer turns to autumn Erik ten Hag and Manchester United's season also enters a new chapter.

The early international break puncuated the start of the Premier League campaign and the opening four games have been a mixed bag for the Reds. The time for finding feet is over, now the campaign ramps up.

United face seven games over the next four weeks in three different competitions. As the old adage goes, you can't win anything this early on but you can certainly lose things.

Ten Hag's side are already playing catch up to many of their top four rivals in the league but their next four fixtures offer a chance to make up ground. Three are at Old Trafford, where the Reds haven't lost a league game since the opening day of last term, while the away match is a winnable trip to Turf Moor and a Burnley side still without a point as they adjust to life back in the Premier League.

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While Brighton, Brentford and Crystal Palace will pose problems for Ten Hag & Co there is certainly scope for maximum points. With Arsenal playing Manchester City and Tottenham in the same period, and Spurs also playing Liverpool, there is an opportunity for United to improve their league position.

If the Reds are to be serious about improving on last season's third place and cutting the gap to City then there must be an expectation of 10 points from 12 before the top flight once again pauses for international action.

United will be on the continent themselves next week as they kick off their Champions League return