Marcus Rashford has given Manchester United a glimpse into their biggest challenge in season run-in

For Manchester United the magic number between now and the end of this draining season is 65. That is the number of games this team will play if they go on to reach the final of the FA Cup and the Europa League.

It is an astonishing number, one made all the more exhausting by the presence of that winter World Cup in Qatar. This has been a season like no other and for nobody is that more true than this United squad.

For 12 weeks since Christmas, Erik ten Hag's team played twice a week. If they go all the way in both remaining cup competitions then they will play midweek fixtures for 21 successive weeks either side of the March internationals.

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It is the price you pay for being involved in such a thrilling campaign. United have already won the Carabao Cup this season and they have a realistic chance in the FA Cup and Europa League as well.

But they only need to look down the M62 to see how such a season can catch up with you in the end. Liverpool played 63 games last season, were in with a chance of winning the quadruple in the final week but came up short. That workload has been exacting its price ever since.

Maintaining the standards set in the winter months when it turns to spring and silverware is on the line is always difficult. Now, it is just about winning and less about performances. Part of that is because the tension and pressure are heightened.

Fatigue also plays a part, however. It will probably play an even greater role this season. The last round of Premier League games is on May 28. The Europa League final is on May 31, the FA Cup final on June 3. Plenty of Premier League players endured the stress of a long World Cup campaign in November and