New shareholder Sir Jim, who will be the key decision-maker on Ten Hag’s future, met the Dutchman last week to offer up some ideas.

And when asked if his need to win a cup was now greater, Ten Hag said: “That is not up to me. But from my talks I had a fantastic feeling after it.

“The personalities, their ideas, the process they want to go in — I am very positive about it.

“And I am sure it will be beneficial for Manchester United.”

Ten Hag is refusing to write United out of the title race even though they are 14 points behind Premier League leaders Liverpool.

But having failed to get out of their Champions League group and losing to Newcastle  in the fourth round of the Carabao Cup, the FA Cup takes on extra significance for the Old Trafford giants.

Ten Hag, 53, added: “We have now two leagues to play for, the Premier League and the FA Cup. We still have a lot to play for.”

Andre Onana is set to start in goal against the Latics and also probably against Tottenham in the Prem on Sunday before flying out to the Africa Cup of Nations.

Despite around 40 other Premier League players already heading off to Ivory Coast for the tournament, which kicks-off on Saturday, Onana has stayed with United.

Once he does leave, he could miss a month of the season,  giving understudy Altay Bayindir his big chance.

The Turkey international joined from Fenerbahce last summer for £4.3million — a fraction of the £43.8m United paid Inter Milan for Onana at the same time.

Ten Hag has backed the 25-year-old to fill the void left by Cameroon star Onana, 27. The Red Devils boss said: “At some point Andre will go.

“We are totally happy and we constructed this group of keepers because we are comfortable with this.

“We have confidence in them and both are very good keepers, experienced at the highest levels.

“We can have a lot of belief that we have coverage but not only coverage but competition between those two or three.

“We are sure that if Andre has to go we are in a good place and have a good replacement to fill that gap.”

Ex-Burnley and Aston Villa veteran Tom Heaton, 37, is also in contention while Onana is away.