Erik ten Hag has never been able to pick his strongest Man United XI. That wait may be about to come to an end.

United line up against Real Madrid in Houston in July

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The strongest Manchester United team Erik ten Hag has picked all season came in pre-season and lasted 74 seconds.

Kobbie Mainoo was the collateral damage in a Casemiro challenge on Real Madrid forward Rodrygo in Houston on July 26 and he did not appear again for the first team for exactly four months.

Mainoo’s ankle injury is a curious sliding doors moment. The 18-year-old was accommodated in the same XI as Casemiro, Mason Mount and Bruno Fernandes against the Madrid of Jude Bellingham, Luka Modric, Eduardo Camavinga and Aurelien Tchouameni.

The setback was the first of a neverending run of injuries. United have recorded 38 cases of injury or illness this season that have caused a player to miss a game and Ten Hag was preparing Mainoo for the team, not the squad.

Casemiro and Mount, both sidelined since November, were supposed to be United’s starting central midfielders but now it is a question of which one partners Mainoo. Probably Casemiro.

Mount is the latest to fall under the number seven hex at United. Twelve games, no goals and no assists. He was dropped by Ten Hag and from the England squad in October.

He has missed 16 of United’s 29 games this season through two separate injuries and it is two months today since Mount last had a kick. The 24-year-old at least started ball work as part of his rehabilitation from a calf injury last month.

Mount’s maiden season at United could be salvaged through the ineptitude of Antony. The €100million signing is an expensive write-off and can no longer be assured of automatic starting status.

If Antony was as easy to offload as Jadon Sancho United would have to consider it. Amad and Facundo Pellistri are alternatives on the right, though the former has not started for United since May 2021 and Pellistri, last in a United starting XI in September, could be allowed to head back out on loan if the injury toll eases.

Quantity reigns over quality on United’s right-hand side but Ten Hag has auxiliary options. Mount has played there and Fernandes did to underrated effect last season.

In the fiery friendly with Madrid, Mount occupied the playmaker role with Fernandes shifted to the right. Alejandro Garnacho was on the left while Marcus Rashford started up front in the absence of a striker, as a fee was not agreed for Rasmus Hojlund’s transfer until two days later.

Mainoo and Garnacho are first XI picks for United now

Hojlund is a certain starter for United, regardless of his mediocre goalscoring record. Rashford no longer is. Garnacho has fared favourably from the right but Rashford, back in his optimum role on the left, irked United’s away-dayers at Wigan with his frivolousness on the ball.

Garnacho has started 15 successive matches and that streak is bound to be extended, barring injury, with ample recovery time between weekend games and no likely midweek commitments until the FA Cup fifth round in late February. The 2022 Jimmy Murphy Young Player of the Year could add the Sir Matt Busby Player of the Year statue to his lounge decorations in May.

Ten Hag picked what was at the time his favoured back five against Madrid six months ago. When all are fit, the only change would probably be Diogo Dalot for Aaron Wan-Bissaka.

United are optimistic Luke Shaw and Lisandro Martinez will return from their lay-offs this month, with Shaw slated to be back for the month-defining fixture against Tottenham on Sunday. Martinez could start at Eastleigh or Newport County in the FA Cup fourth round.

Mount, Onana and Hojlund were United’s three main summer signings

An XI of Onana, Dalot, Varane, Martinez, Shaw, Casemiro, Mainoo, Garnacho, Mount, Fernandes and Hojlund is an XI in Ten Hag’s image. Five of his signings, three who have signed contract renewals on his watch, his captain and youngsters he has hothoused.

United have five Premier League fixtures in February and two are against sides above them in the table. Victory against Tottenham is essential so United have a fillip before their next league match at Wolves 18 days later.

The fourth round draw against a League Two or a National League side is as good as a bye for United. They have never lost to a non-league or fourth-tier team in the competition post-war, so a fifth round date for the last midweek of February is nigh-on assured.

Six games in 28 days will be a timely acid test for a fuller squad. United have to suit up for the business end of the season next month and they need the strongest XI to stay together for longer than 74 seconds.