Ineos are back where they began with the Manchester United manager

Erik ten Hag has survived another international break, but the truth is he was never actually at any risk of losing his Manchester United job this time around.

On the same day United's latest executive committee summit took place in London last week, the prime candidate to replace him signed a deal to move to the capital and lead the England national side. Thomas Tuchel was considered the favourite to potentially replace Ten Hag at Old Trafford should a change be made and there was legitimate interest from United as well following Sir Jim Ratcliffe's talks with the German over the summer.

However, his appointment this time around was a non-starter. It leaves Ineos back where they began regarding the future of the under fire United manager.

Just as in the summer, club chiefs find themselves in a position where there is no outstanding candidate to replace Ten Hag at Old Trafford anymore, and no compelling choice who you could argue would certainly do a better job.

Since the strategic review, Gareth Southgate is the only new big name on the market, and even then he has ruled himself out of taking any job for the next year, although his arm might well be twisted if his boyhood club came calling. Graham Potter is still liked be Ineos, though there are doubts about his suitability to such a high-profile role, beyond those two, there aren't many other options.

That isn't to say a change won't be made though. United insist Ten Hag has the backing of the board for now and it would be highly embarrassing for the new co-owners if they changed manager so soon after given him a one-year contract extension and backed him with almost £200m in the summer window.

However, there is an acceptance that improved performances as well as results are required soon, and that if a change were to be made it would be preferably to do so while there is still time to make their season a success.

In that case, Ruud van Nistelrooy would be the obvious choice to take immediate charge on a caretaker basis while the club established a long-term plan to appoint a more qualified coach next year, though the former Dutch forward might fancy his chances of taking the job permanently as well.

With Tuchel occupied for at least the next two seasons, there is no longer a clear option to replace Ten Hag in the hotseat. The pressure has been eased, for now.