Manchester United's 0-0 draw with BSC Young Boys in midweek may not be remembered for long, but it could shape the club's immediate future under Ralf Rangnick.
With the top spot in Champions League Group F already secured, the interim manager used the opportunity to give his fringe players a platform to showcase their talents in a competitive match, a very different environment than the training sessions he has already overseen.
United's heavily changed lineup resulted in the unavoidable consequences of a scrappy approach on the field, as a new-look squad struggled to find their rhythm or establish link-up play while playing alongside other periphery figures.
Mason Greenwood shone brightest, scoring an exquisite acrobatic goal to remind Rangnick of his phenomenal talents, which are often overlooked despite his youth, though others did not fare as well in their auditions.
When Manchester United face Norwich in the Premier League this weekend, there will almost certainly be more wholesale changes, but Rangnick can take heart in the fact that his switch to a 4-2-2-2 formation has provided him with two completely different XIs to work with if he so desires.
Shaw is expected to gradually reclaim his starting spot ahead of Alex Telles at left-back once he recovers from his recent concussion concerns, while Raphael Varane is expected to reclaim his spot from Victor Lindelof once he recovers from his own injury setback.
Donny van de Beek, Jesse Lingard, and Eric Bailly remain rotational options based on their recent performances, but there is clear potential for them to get sporadic starts depending on the opposition.
Perhaps the two most intriguing decisions concern Paul Pogba and Edinson Cavani, both of whom were deemed untouchable at various points this calendar year but are now on the outside looking in due to injury and will have to work hard to force their way back into the manager's reckoning.
Luke Shaw and Greenwood are the only two who can realistically compete for a starting spot in the near future among those who started in midweek, with fellow full-back Aaron Wan-Bissaka now trailing Diogo Dalot in the pecking order.
Rangnick has a plethora of young exciting attacking talent on the outskirts to call on should he need them in the second half of the season, an enviable situation for any manager to be in.
With a busy fixture schedule ahead, United will need to demonstrate their squad depth if they are to meet their revised targets and make this season a success.
Rangnick's thoughts on his strongest possible lineup were unaffected by the midweek draw with Young Boys, but it did remind him of the breadth of his options.
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