It is going to be a tense finale to the Premier League season after the international break as Manchester United battle for the top-four finish.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side have defied the odds to revitalise any chances of automatic Champions League qualification and the club are in with a realistic chance of finishing fourth with just eight matches to go.
Four teams are battling for just two places, and something has to give.
Tottenham currently occupy third place, with Arsenal in fourth while United and Chelsea are each just one win away from potentially leapfrogging either of their domestic rivals.
However, United potentially have a crucial advantage over three of their rivals in the battle to finish in a Champions League spot at the end of the season.
Supporters would be forgiven for letting out a loud sigh when they saw the news Luke Shaw had withdrawn from the England squad through injury. One of the most consistent performers this season was out of the national set-up and the full extent of his lay-off remains to be seen.
Shaw’s setback might be bad news for supporters in need of a vague interest in the upcoming international fixture schedule, but it might just come as a blessing for Solskjaer and his coaching staff.
That is because his withdrawal means United now have just eight players away with their national sides over the upcoming break, a clear advantage when compared with some rivals.
Marcus Rashford, Paul Pogba, Eric Bailly, Scott McTominay, Romelu Lukaku, Antonio Valencia, Nemanja Matic and David de Gea are all away with their respective nations but it wouldn’t be a surprise if some of their individual game time is limited.
In contrast, both Tottenham and Chelsea have 11 of their first-team squad away with international squads over the next week or so as Mauricio Pochettino and Maurizio Sarri both cross their fingers for now significant injury blows.
Of course the same can be said for United, but the fact they have beaten Paris Saint-Germain away from home with ten senior players missing from the squad might ease such contrasting fears.
Arsenal also have 11 players away over the international break, but importantly for them the likes of Alexandre Lacazette, Denis Suarez and Mesut Ozil won’t be in action.
However, the London side have bizarrely agreed to fly out to Dubai and play a friendly match against Al-Nasr over the break, a risk which could backfire.
Likewise any injury blows to Tottenham could prove most costly immediately after the international break with their next game a trip to Anfield to face league leaders Liverpool.
United will be eager to bounce back from successive defeats when they face Watford at Old Trafford next week, and not only could victory next weekend ease the immediate concerns at the club, but the form straight after international duty could prove decisive if Solskjaer‘s side are to claim a top-four spot.