Manchester United starlet Zidane Iqbal must make a choice about his future after Erik ten Hag decided to keep him on the bench during their 3-0 victory over Charlton Athletic in the Carabao Cup quarterfinals.
The 19-year-old midfielder wants to go out on loan this month, according to the Manchester Evening News. Iqbal will continue to practise with the first team for the remainder of the current season before starting a season-long loan in the summer.
Iqbal, who impressed the fans with his performances in the pre-season friendlies, has been an unused substitute on 11 occasions this season. He is still extremely young, but compared to other players his age, he is at a later stage in his growth.
It was expected that Iqbal would make his full-match debut for United against Charlton. However, Ten Hag opted to go with the 17-year-old kid, Kobbie Mainoo.
Iqbal watched the game from the sidelines as Casemiro and Christian Eriksen were introduced as substitutes in the second half. Iqbal made his lone senior United appearance in December 2021 as a substitute against Young Boys in the Champions League group stage match.
Given the World Cup’s tight fixture schedule, Ten Hag’s need for squad depth is understandable. He will likely be more wary of his midfield options after Donny van de Beek suffered an injury.
However, the Iraqi star must earn some playing time. Iqbal would likely be willing to stay at the club if Ten Hag can give him more opportunities, if only as a substitute.
