sport news Zidane Iqbal and Charlie Savage impress - SIX things we learned from Man ... trends now

Manchester United may have struggled out in Andalusia on Wednesday night as Cadiz romped to an ultimately deserved 4-2 victory, but it was not all bad news for Erik ten Hag. 

The Dutch manager will have known going in to the fixture that he would not be treated to a free-flowing display that he might expect from his regular starting line-up, with at least 10 starters still to return from the World Cup. 

However, despite the scoreline there were still some players that were able to hold their hands up and demand attention from Ten Hag - as well as some that did not - and here Sportsmail takes a look at what we learned from United's friendly defeat in Spain.  

1. Zidane Iqbal might be worth the hype

Manchester United's Iraq international midfielder was a player on many supporters' lips after some dazzling displays on the club's pre-season tour over summer, and he was a youngster that impressed on Wednesday night.

Iqbal was dynamic off the ball and quick-witted on it. He drew both challenges and defenders throughout his first half showing, and his fast feet earned United the penalty that allowed Anthony Martial the opening goal. 

The 19-year-old was one of United's more positive midfielders in a half of football that saw them dominate possession but struggle to make in-roads, and his ability to come short for the ball in between the lines, before spinning in behind, was a key facet of his side's progressive approach play. 

He started alongside captain-for-the-night Scott McTominay in midfield for Erik ten Hag's side, and he looked a player that will at least match the Scotsman's 188-game tally for the club in the near future.  

2. Charlie Savage has the makings of a midfield metronome 

For the majority of his Manchester United career, Charlie Savage will have been largely identified by fans as 'Robbie's son', but if he can build on performances like Wednesday night's, he will soon be carving out his own name. 

The youngster - like Iqbal - was constantly demanding the ball at the base of a second half midfield, and he was quick to assume the vacant leader role that McTominay had left behind when he was hooked at the interval. 

Everything United did in the second half came through him, and he controlled the pace and tempo of his side's play throughout his 45-minute showing like a metronome, rarely failing to miss his beat and driving his side on in the face of an increasingly apparent defeat.  

Yes, Savage was at fault for the fourth goal - his sloppy touch from Di'Shon Bernard's squared pass allowed Tomas Alarcon a near open run at Martin Dubravka's goal for his finish in the 77th minute - but it had little to no effect on the youngster. 

For many 19 year olds, such a mistake would occupy the forefront of their minds for the rest of the game and cause further errors to seep into their game. But Savage carried on with his head held high, which will have impressed Ten Hag more than his competent passing through the midfield.  

3. Anthony Martial can lead the line when called upon

Despite four goals and two assists this season, the statistic that stands out for Martial is the fact that he's only played seven games, as injury continues to ravage a promising young forward's career at Old Trafford. 

But at times on Wednesday evening in Andalusia, Martial showed that he still has all the qualities that a good centre-forward needs; he held the ball up well, played little passes in behind the lines for midfielders and wingers to run on to, and, perhaps most importantly, showed he still knows where the back of the goal is. 

His finish was one of supreme composure and confidence, dinking the ball delicately down the middle of the goal after waiting for Jeremias Ledesma to dive to his right and watch as the ball agonisingly drifted into the open net to get his side back in the game before half-time. 

Martial is not Cristiano Ronaldo, and nor

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