3 Manchester United Players To Focus On During Erik Ten Hag's First Pre-Season At The Club

Manchester United flew to Thailand on Friday afternoon to prepare for their pre-season opener against Liverpool on the following Tuesday, and there are a number of players to look out for in Erik ten Hag's squad.

The new Dutch manager has had two weeks to settle in with his squad, after pre-season training began on 27 June, and had international players, barring Cristiano Ronaldo, start at the beginning of the week.

This has allowed Ten Hag to get to grips with the team, and he's been happy with what he's seen so far.

"I must say, the players do really well. They are really focused. They bring, for themselves, the energy." He told MUTV.

"You see they enjoy playing football. They enjoy playing football together and they really work well together."

However, the manager now has a further three weeks with the squad in order to assess his players further.

There will be a number of names that both supporters and Ten Hag will want to keep a special eye on during this tour, as it could influence their positions in the squad for the upcoming Premier League season.

Here are three United players that should be of focus throughout United's pre-season tour:

Tyrell Malacia

Starting with the obvious name, Tyrell Malacia joined the Reds from Feyenoord on Tuesday as Ten Hag's first signing for the club.

As a left-back, Malacia will compete with Luke Shaw, while it seems like the club are listening to offers for Alex Telles.

The English defender has been touted as an important player under Ten Hag going forward, but the manager is also a big fan of the Netherlands international, which is why he brought him to Old Trafford.

While Malacia will likely start as the understudy to Shaw, if he is able to impress during pre-season, then it will give him a better chance to push for a place in the team after the season begins.

Another reason why he is one to keep an eye on is because many United fans wouldn't have seen him play before.

The excitement is clear, and now those supporters will be able to see what he is like on the pitch.

Anthony Martial

Anthony Martial has had a terrible last two seasons but with Ronaldo likely to leave the club, and the fresh face of Ten Hag in the hotseat, he could have one last chance at the club he joined in 2015.

A space will be vacated at the peak of the pitch if Ronaldo does leave. Brian Brobbey has been one option that Ten Hag is reportedly interested in.

However, the manager could be swayed by Martial, who does suit the kind of quick, intricate football that the Dutchman will want to play.

The main question is whether he can find his shooting boots, and confidence, following his awful form which saw him be loaned out to Sevilla in the back-end of last season.

We have seen these type of turnarounds under new management before though. Before Thomas Tuchel joined Chelsea, Antonio Rudiger was mocked across the league for his poor performances under Frank Lampard. Now, Blues fans will be upset to see the German leave Stamford Bridge for Real Madrid.

Ultimately, the decision will be left with Ten Hag, who will certainly assess the Frenchman throughout pre-season, and that's why he should be an area of interest for those following along with the fixtures.

Amad

Finally, it is the youngster who so many United supporters are excited by, Amad.

As the only natural right-sided winger in the squad, Amad's quality could show Ten Hag that he is more than a useful player to have in his squad next season.

The manager wants to bring in Ajax's Antony for the hole on the right, but that deal has the stumbling block of a large asking price from the the Eredivisie club.

Whether or not the Brazilian is added to the fold, the young Ivorian would provide solid competition, while also being one of the only create-first attackers in United's ranks.

After a tough yet worthwhile experience in Scotland when he was on loan with Rangers, Amad has the opportunity to put his talent on the table during pre-season as Ten Hag considers his offensive options.

The tricky 19-year-old winger is beyond his age when in possession, constantly looking for the correct pass to ensure the play continues. This will be something that Ten Hag appreciates.

Pre-season is the best time for Amad to prove his worth to the manager, and how he performs in front of the Dutchman will be key to whether or not he remains at United next season.