With Champions League football secured, Michael Carrick hints at rotating his side against Sunderland as the interim boss prioritises fresh legs for the season's climax, leaving the door open to a specific United youngster.
If you told a Manchester United fan at Christmas their club would secure Champions League football after beating Liverpool 3-2 at Old Trafford with three games to spare, they wouldn't have believed you.
However, Michael Carrick has achieved what very few thought he would manage when he was announced as interim boss back in January.
Now that European football has been secured, players and staff at the club can look forward to next season and begin to prepare a side that can compete with the best clubs in the world.
With there games left to be played in the Premier League, it is a chance for some players to prove to their manager as well as the fans that they deserve to represent the club in one of the largest competitions in history.
On the other side of the coin, it gives the players who have worked tirelessly to secure a place in the UCL a chance to have a breather, making way for fringe players who will be desperate to leave a mark on the end of the season before the upcoming summer transfer window.
One player in particular will want to leave his mark on the remaining three games, as they look to break into squad before the start of next season.
Carrick hints at rotation for Sunderland match
Speaking on Thursday afternoon, Carrick hinted that the side may be rotated for the remaining three fixtures, opening the door for players like Joshua Zirkzee and Mason Mount to feature.
“I think every player in the squad has been absolutely fantastic, I have to say,” Carrick said.
"Yeah, some have played a lot more than others and I understand, from a professional and a playing point of view, it can be difficult, but the togetherness and the support that the players have shown, certainly to each other, is great to see.
"It's what we need within the group and that's part of the challenge of doing a lot of training and not having as many games as we would have liked. It's the balance that we've had to make the most of really.
"So, yeah, coming into these games, it's something we're aware of. I think it's something that we're really keen on playing well and still trying to get good results as well though. But yeah, it's definitely something to be aware of."
One player in particular whom United fans would love to see feature in a potential rotated squad is Shea Lacey. Having not played a minute of Premier League football since his sending off against Brighton in the FA Cup in January, the 19-year-old winger may benefit from playing in a side with reduced pressure.
Could Lacey make his debut against Sunderland?
If Lacey were to return to the first team, it would likely be in place of Bryan Mbuemo, who has been lacking for form for the past few months now.
The Sunderland game may be to soon to start Lacey, but a stint off the bench seems likely if Carrick does plan to rotate the squad.
It would be a huge opportunity for the academy product, who will be desperate to make amends for his dismissal, and could potentially fast-track the tricky youngster to becoming a serious attacking option for the start of the 26/27 campaign.
United fans will also be keen to see another one of their own break into the first team, further reinforcing the quality of Carrington and Manchester United's youth setup.
The starting eleven Carrick decides to go for in each of the last three games will all have to run just as hard as the players they are potentially replacing, as a successful end to the season should hopefully carry some momentum going into pre-season.