Six Manchester United academy youngsters can change Erik ten Hag's plans this summer

Manchester United's Erik ten Hag was officially unveiled to the media two weeks ago. The Dutchman stayed in Manchester for a few more days after that press conference and he's now enjoying a break with his wife and three children.

There was talk of Ten Hag refusing to take a holiday but that was inadvisable. Ten Hag has just accepted the biggest challenge of his career and his time at Old Trafford will be consuming. He should enjoy his holiday this summer more than others.

Ten Hag needs that holiday to return to Manchester as the best, mentally recharged version of himself. Ten Hag has managed Go Ahead Eagles, Bayern Munich II, Utrecht and Ajax — which isn't the ordinary path to becoming manager of United — and everyone connected with the club is hoping he's not an ordinary manager. United need Ten Hag to be more than that.

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Ten Hag's early arrival means United are ahead of their summer schedule already. That groundwork from Ten Hag should pay dividends in the transfer market and eventually at Carrington. Ten Hag has set the tone from the first minute of his tenure.

United's players will report for pre-season on June 27 and the Premier League season will begin on August 13 — the season starts earlier due to the winter World Cup. That means the players have less than seven weeks of summer preparation with Ten Hag, fewer for some.

United will also visit Australia, the Far East and Norway during that period. Ten Hag wants United to be a pressing side and fitness work in pre-season will be key for the new campaign. So it's clear United's batch of talented youngsters will need to demonstrate their commitment and quality.

Alva