The Dutch coach is managing a gruelling run of matches (Picture: MUTV)

Erik ten Hag has defended his decision to only make one substitution in Sunday’s goalless draw at home to Newcastle and rejected suggestions Manchester United lacked fluidity without Christian Eriksen.

The Dane was missing from the matchday squad due to illness and United produced just two shots on target without a player who has been their main source of creativity and invention this season.

With United chasing a winner, Ten Hag made just one change – taking off Cristiano Ronaldo for Marcus Rashford – with some supporters feeling he could have utilised his bench more, particularly with games coming thick and fast.

But Ten Hag feels he needs to be particularly protective of his forwards given his current lack of options up top and did not feel any further changes were needed – and was nearly justified when Rashford missed a late header.

Asked about his lack of subs, and whether he was happy with how his side were playing, Ten Hag replied: ‘Exactly. Some players were not available, as you know, today. Christian Eriksen not available, Anthony Martial not available, Scott McTominay not available.

‘So that was the feeling I had. I brought freshness with Rashy, I think he had an impact. If he scored that goal then you do everything right.

Rashford was inches away from giving Man Utd the lead late on (Picture: Getty)

‘Now we have to accept this but most important to see this as the next step in our development, our progress, deal with this and focus on the next game [against Tottenham]. And that’s going to be a big game.’

On the logic behind taking off Ronaldo, who did not seem especially pleased when he was withdrawn, Ten Hag added: ‘We have to cover four games in 10 days, and especially for the strikers I want to keep them fresh.

‘I want to keep them all fresh, so we have to rotate there. We have some problems there, Martial is not available in this moment, so we have a player less.

‘Rashy was under the weather so he didn’t have the energy for a whole game so we have to plan that, we have to plan that to cover the four games because we want to win all the four games – or, at least, get a result in all four games.’

United struggled to progress the ball forward without the creativity and guile of Eriksen in midfield, though Ten Hag defended his players and felt they performed well in the absence of the Dane.

Asked about United’s lack of fluidity with the ball without Eriksen in the team, Ten Hag responded bluntly: ‘But we have a squad and you see the last weeks we have more than 11 players who can contribute and also this team played really well.’

MORE : Why Christian Eriksen misses Manchester United’s clash against Newcastle United

MORE : Ben Foster on David De Gea, Manchester United’s ‘problem’ and the evolution of goalkeeping

For more stories like this, check our sport page.

Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

The Dutch coach is managing a gruelling run of matches.