Erik ten Hag could play these 3 Manchester United youngsters vs Burnley

Manchester United face Burnley in the Carabao Cup fourth-round on the 21st of December, just three days after the final of the World Cup.

Erik ten Hag and his side will be eager to progress into the next round, as the Dutchman searches for his first chance of silverware for the club.

However, with the turnaround from the World Cup being so tight, the match could provide the opportunity for a number of youngsters to make an impression in the first-team.

The Championship side are no slouches, with new manager Vincent Kompany pushing a more attractive style of football on the team who were commonly known for their defensive style in the Premier League.

With 12 United players representing their countries in the knock-outs of the World Cup, this cup fixture could present a valuable opportunity for others in the squad.

A large number of youth stars have travelled to Spain with the club ahead of the two friendly matches against Cadiz and Real Betis. This could influence the manager’s decision regarding who appears at Old Trafford on the 21st of December.

Zidane Iqbal is one young talent that could play in the cup against Burnley. He made his first-team debut in a victory against Young Boys in the Champions League last season.

The 19-year-old midfielder was influential during pre-season and was thankful to Ten Hag for the opportunity to play alongside youth team midfield companion, Charlie Savage.

“Playing a very strong Liverpool team and coming away with the win, I’d just like to thank the manager for putting his trust in me and Sav, you know,” he told MUTV.

With Casemiro and Fred likely to make their way toward the end stages of the tournament, the young midfielder could find his way into the side for the cup match.

Meanwhile, Alejandro Garnacho is almost certain to start in this fixture after missing out on a call-up for Argentina last month following some excellent form for United.

His last appearance in a United shirt saw him score a last-minute winner against Fulham at Craven Cottage, which came shortly after he assisted twice in the same game against Aston Villa in the previous round of the Carabao Cup.

At just 18 years of age, Garnacho now looks like he will be a consistent player for Ten Hag’s side after a quiet start to the season.

Finally, this game could also see Charlie McNeill make his second first-team appearance. The young striker joined the club from Manchester City in the summer of 2020.

With Cristiano Ronaldo no longer at the club – and the possibility of Marcus Rashford entering the latter stages of the World Cup with England – it means that Anthony Martial is the only recognised senior striker heading toward the cup fixture.

The Frenchman will likely start the game, but Ten Hag could be looking to protect him ahead of the following game in the Premier League on the 27th of December.

With the talented McNeill likely to be amongst the substitutes, he could receive the chance to impress from the bench against Burnley.