Manchester United midfielder Scott McTominay has opened up on the team's Spain training camp, with the Scot confident that it will stand the Red Devils in good stead for the return of competitive action.
The 20-time English champions played their first mid-season friendly on Wednesday, suffering a 4-2 defeat to Cadiz, and they will be back in action against Real Betis on Saturday.
Erik ten Hag's side will then head back to Manchester to prepare for the return of competitive action.
Man United will be in EFL Cup action against Burnley on December 21 before returning to Premier League duty at home to Nottingham Forest on December 27.
McTominay has said that the experience will be key for the younger members of the squad, with many featuring against Cadiz on Wednesday.
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"Yeah, it's been good to have a lot of the younger boys come and experience what it's like to be with the first team and stuff like that. It's good for them. They can learn from a lot of the senior lads in Tom Heaton, Martin Dubravka, David De Gea, Victor Lindelof and people like that who have seen a lot in football," McTominay told the club's official website.
"Obviously you've got myself, Donny [van de Beek] and a couple of younger lads who have still had a lot of experience in the first team so for us it's important that we guide them and we help them through the training and the games and I feel like we've all been training so well.
"Maybe the other night was a blip but it's important we get everyone together and the minutes are important too. It was a very different team and we've only had a short period of time to prepare for the game and it's 45 minutes which was important for everyone.
"We needed the minutes and to push things forward. We've got another game coming up, so it's obviously nothing to worry about.
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"There are a lot of different players in the team and younger boys coming up, players coming back from injury as well so I mean it's part and parcel of football. You've got to go on to the next one.
"We've got plenty of games coming up in terms of friendlies to really work on that and obviously get the group back together, the core group of players who are going to be playing in the game against Burnley, ready and raring to go and as I say fitness is one of the most important things at this time, when you're just coming back and you need to get your legs moving again.
"It's important for us, but when the game against Burnley comes around, I'm sure the whole squad and the manager will be ready."
Man United were in strong form ahead of the break for the World Cup, winning five of their six matches before the season was halted, including a 2-1 success over Fulham in the Premier League last time out.
Matt Law
