Mainoo emergence means Eriksen is entering endgame at Old Trafford

THE United bench has resembled a creche at times in recent weeks, as Erik ten Hag finds his options stretched to the limit amid a neverending injury crisis.

- TYRONE MARSHALL

Yet in among the kids has been at least one experienced face, chatting on the bench, offering advice as they limber up, but hardly ever getting on the pitch. What has happened to Christian Eriksen? The 32-year-old has now been an unused substitute in eight of the past nine games. In the last two of those, Ten Hag has essentially started four central midfielders, but he hasn't turned to the Denmark international at any point. Against Manchester City and Everton, it is Scott McTominay who has come into the team and Sofyan Amrabat who has come off the bench.

With Mason Mount now edging closer to a return to fitness, Eriksen's chances are likely to shrink further.

The only one of those last nine games that he came off the bench for was the 2-1 defeat to Fulham when he was given 37 minutes.

If Mount returns to the squad soon then there will be room for both on the bench, with Toby Collyer likely to drop out, but it seems clear Eriksen is unlikely to be called upon, with Ten Hag drifting away from the idea of using the former Ajax midfielder's range of passing and control.