“He is playing in our next match against Fulham” – Ten Hag has summoned “the perfect modern full back” from the academy to join the first team training sessions, as they possess potential to surpass Mainoo.

Injuries continue to plague Manchester United’s current season, with no respite in sight. Despite the recent return of Lisandro Martinez, Luke Shaw, and Casemiro, the team has suffered setbacks once again.

Martinez sustained an injury against West Ham and is expected to be sidelined until at least March, casting doubt on his availability for the remainder of the season.

Shaw, who was substituted at halftime during the Aston Villa game, aggravated his injury in the match against Luton Town, raising concerns about his season-long participation.

Shaw’s setback is particularly troubling as it may potentially end his season prematurely. With Alvaro Fernandez at Benfica and Sergio Reguilon now playing for Brentford, Manchester United finds itself lacking options at left-back.

Although Diogo Dalot could be shifted to the left, the recent injury to Aaron Wan-Bissaka has forced Victor Lindelof to fill in at right-back in the last two matches.

However, Lindelof’s performances have been underwhelming, evidenced by his failure to win any aerial duels in 90 minutes of play, as per Sofascore data.

This weakness in Lindelof’s game is likely to be exploited sooner rather than later.

Considering the inadequacies of Lindelof and other makeshift options like Sofyan Amrabat, who struggled in previous games, it’s evident that Manchester United needs to address its left-back situation urgently.

Ten Hag has recently included Harry Amass in first-team training sessions, and the 16-year-old was once again seen training on Thursday in preparation for the upcoming match against Fulham on Saturday.

Although Amass is still considered a raw talent, he appears to be better suited to handling the specific challenges of the left-back position compared to makeshift options who struggle in unfamiliar roles.

Amass, who joined from Watford in the summer, has already made strides by breaking into the U21s, indicating his potential readiness for senior action.

The England U17 international was highly sought after, with Manchester United winning the battle against Chelsea for his signature.

Amass has impressed with the U18s, contributing a goal and three assists, showcasing his quality at that level.

While Ten Hag may have reservations about thrusting the 16-year-old into high-pressure situations, the success stories of academy graduates like Kobbie Mainoo and Alejandro Garnacho highlight the strength of United’s youth setup.

Therefore, Amass deserves consideration for a place on the bench, and if Lindelof or Amrabat encounter difficulties, the manager should not hesitate to give the young talent some playing time.