Compared to the previous international break Erik ten Hag had to endure in September, which saw Jadon Sancho lash out against him on social media and Antony being accused of domestic violence, the last two weeks must have felt like a holiday. There have been no scandals affecting Manchester United players and there has been a positive update in the takeover saga as Sir Jim Ratcliffe closes in on his 25 percent stake.
There has also been some good news on the injury front, with Raphael Varane, Kobbie Mainoo, Sofyan Amrabat and Sergio Reguilon returning to training. United will be without Casemiro for their next fixture against Sheffield United but given the Brazilian's startling decline in form and the fact the injury is not serious, it is not the biggest setback.
United certainly needed some respite after a seemingly never-ending injury crisis and an awful run of results, setting unwanted records with each defeat. And after their miraculous, last-gasp victory over Brentford, they head into their next seven fixtures before the next break with a spring in their step.
And this time they will need to kick on as, with two notable exceptions, they have a comfortable run of games. And as their terrible start has left them so little margin for error, they need to start performing, and urgently. There can be no excuses now and unless United pull together a run of wins, Ten Hag will have no room left to hide...