Three Manchester United players can force Erik ten Hag into selection change

Over the past four games, Erik ten Hag has proved his loyalty to his Manchester United players. Four successive victories have brought just one team change, with £85million winger Antony coming in for Anthony Elanga on Sunday.

Other than that, Ten Hag was stuck with the players who are performing and that meant substitute roles for the most expensive defender of all time, the best-paid player in the Premier League and a defensive midfielder signed for £60million with five Champions League titles to his name.

The message from Ten Hag has been clear: Play well and you will keep your place in the team and it's hard to argue against such a hierarchical structure.

READ MORE: United could unleash completely different Europa League XI

For those who have had to bide their time and kick their feet during that run of wins, an opportunity of sorts is coming this week. United begin their Europa League campaign tomorrow, with an Old Trafford fixture against Real Sociedad, and Ten Hag is likely to make changes in what looks like a very routine group.

United's squad depth is such that they could field two entirely different XIs in Europe and in the Premier League and it might be that those two teams evolve a little over the next month.

But this week there will be some big names in the team on Thursday. Plenty of them will see it as the chance to force Ten Hag into changes on Sunday when United travel to Crystal Palace in the Premier League.

That will be easier said than done for some. Harry Maguire is likely to start against Sociedad, but the club captain and £80million centre-back has a fight on his hands to dislodge either Raphael Varane or Lisandro Martinez right now.

Given the calibre of opposition in United's Europa League group