Why more Manchester United departures are likely in the January transfer window

Should Wigan slay the Manchester United behemoth as Bournemouth in 1984 and Leeds in 2010 did, then Erik ten Hag would have a derisory 18 fixtures left to prepare for this season.

Like Wigan, Bournemouth and Leeds were in the third tier when they ejected United from the FA Cup and the last time they had no silverware to play for beyond January was in 1987.

Wigan have had the hex over the other Manchester club in the competition in recent memory, overcoming City vintages of Mancini, Pellegrini and Guardiola. Claiming the scalp of United is a longer shot than the 18th-placed League One side's 2013 final triumph.

United have won 18 and lost one since the teams first met in December 2005. There have been six 4-0 drubbings and a couple of 5-0s. Coincidentally, the Wigan manager Shaun Maloney is responsible for United's sole loss. His stylish curler caused United's title collapse in 2012 when they had an eight-point lead with six fixtures remaining before they took the road to Wigan Pier.

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Wigan marked the official start of the post-Ferguson era for United in the 2013 Community Shield, only the second winner's medal David Moyes collected as a manager. Another Wembley date would offer deliverance for Erik ten Hag this season.

Ten Hag will not need reminding the last Dutch United manager's tenure ended with an FA Cup win. History could repeat itself after another winter of discontent but the carefully-timed smiling images of Ten Hag with Sir Jim Ratcliffe should reassure the former.

So will the imminent loan of Jadon Sancho to Borussia Dortmund. Had Sancho still been at United with the