138 days on from the nadir of Erik ten Hag’s reign, Manchester United are back at Selhurst Park for another distant away trip.

United are winless in four at Crystal Palace and their most recent visit threatened to be remembered as infamously as the 5-0 thrashing Frank O’Farrell’s side suffered in 1972. Yet 19 days on from that Monday mare, United secured the FA Cup and Ten Hag secured his job.

United return to Croydon with confidence flowing again after two victories against Southampton and Barnsley by an aggregate scoreline of 10-0. Here are five things to look out for at Palace today:

Changes from Southampton?

United have won well in their last two games. The squad is so full now with Mason Mount and Rasmus Hojlund back that Toby Collyer may not travel to Crystal Palace.

Twente on Wednesday would be the ideal fixture to start Mount and Hojlund but there are key decisions to be made in midfield and attack at Selhurst Park. Manuel Ugarte made his full debut in midweek and could get a first Premier League start while Ten Hag will have to disappoint a prominent forward. The most expensive – Antony – does not even come into the reckoning. He has to be back on the bench.

Does a winger miss out?

Amad was United’s best player at Southampton and earned a bit of a breather against Barnsley, put to the sword by Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho.

Garnacho has started in only two of United’s six matches this term while Rashford has lined up in all six. It is safe to assume he will make it seven today.

Ten Hag has gained much from using Garnacho as a substitute but it is a matter of time until he starts again. An option is to accommodate Rashford, Garnacho and Amad with Bruno Fernandes in an attacking quartet.

Or does Zirkzee miss out?

Rashford spearheaded the United attack against Barnsley but his first goal came from the right-hand channel and his second from the left. Fernandes is also familiar with doubling as a false nine.

Joshua Zirkzee has not struggled for chances but has struggled for goals. Dropping him after two games might seem harsh and his general play improved at St Mary’s. But the other four forwards are currently more dependable.

Spot the difference?

“It was clear it was a 4-0,” Ten Hag said this week of the debacle at Palace in May. “Totally deserved. But Saturday will be different.”

The United boss refused to compare the current United with the team he fielded on May 6. You can see why. Realistically, four starters from that night (Andre Onana, Diogo Dalot, Kobbie Mainoo and Garnacho) could start against Palace this evening. United have not won their last four at Selhurst, a home from home during their Nineties hegemony.

Ugarte to start?

Casemiro and Christian Eriksen were in the line-up at Palace four-and-a-half months ago but the former had his first-team status revoked last week and it seems a stretch for Eriksen to start a third successive match. Palace are not as imposing a side as they were on that May Monday evening and Ugarte should be entrusted to perform against Adam Wharton.