When preparing for Tuesday night’s Carabao Cup quarterfinal against Charlton Athletic at Old Trafford, Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag finds himself short on attacking midfielders.
United, who haven’t played the League One team in this tournament since 1974, won’t have Bruno Fernandes or Donny van de Beek because of injuries. While the latter is facing time on the sidelines due to injury, the former will miss out due to suspension after receiving his second yellow card in as many Carabao Cup matches in the previous round against Burnley.
For United, Fernandes has been a mainstay, missing only the 3-1 loss to Aston Villa in the Premier League back in November due to a suspension for his fifth booking of the season. At Villa Park, Van de Beek filled in for him at No. 10 alongside Christian Eriksen and Casemiro.
The Dutchman, however, had trouble making an impact and was taken off with 65 minutes remaining after recording just 18 touches of the ball. Ten Hag was reluctant to break up Eriksen’s partnership with Casemiro and move the Dane into the more advanced role, so the former Ajax player was the only candidate to replace Fernandes at the tip of the midfield diamond.
While Eriksen was originally brought to Old Trafford as an attacking midfielder, he has excelled as a deeper-lying playmaker since his summer transfer. If given a starting spot, Ten Hag is unlikely to play him in a more advanced role against Charlton because this is where he sees him performing best in his system.
If Eriksen is kept in a deeper role against the Addicks or is rested in preparation for Saturday’s match against Manchester City, Ten Hag may have to look further into his roster for a player capable of playing the No. 10 position. Fortunately, he has Zidane Iqbal, who has been patiently waiting to make his full United debut.
The teenager impressed on the preseason tour of Thailand and Australia, as well as in Spain last month during the World Cup break, but he hasn’t gotten a sniff this season after making his only senior appearance for the Reds as a late substitute in a 1-1 draw at home to Young Boys in the Champions League in December 2021.
Fans of Manchester United have been clamouring for him to be given more playing time because he is an exciting and technically adept midfielder. While he is yet to find his natural position on the field, he did concede that he would be OK playing in an attacking-midfielder role if given the chance by Ten Hag after an outstanding second-half cameo effort in the Reds’ 4-1 win over Melbourne Victory in July.
Iqbal said to United View during the pre-season, “I don’t mind playing in a double pivot, as a No.10, or on the wing, anywhere the manager asks me to play.” I used to play No.10 when I was younger, but you have to change your position a little as you get older.
As of right now, Zidane Iqbal has not played a single minute of first-team football this year. So far this season, Zidane Iqbal has not played a single minute with the first team.
And I don’t care if it’s the wing or the centre, I just want to play.
With that caveat in mind, a home match against League One opponents in an important quarterfinal of a competition United hopes to win seems like the ideal scenario for Iqbal to bring his performances in friendly matches to a more significant level. He’s a promising young talent, and his results in informal matches have been promising.
Given how well he played in Spain, many were surprised when he was left off the matchday roster for the previous round’s game against Burnley.
The attacking-midfield spot appears to be waiting for him this time around, however, since both Fernandes and Van de Beek are unavailable for selection.
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