Dutch right back ter Avest, who signed in the summer following his exit from FC Utrecht, made his debut last weekend in United’s 2-0 defeat at Sky Bet Championship leaders Sunderland, while Goodwin made a first appearance of the season, having recovered from an ankle ligaments problem.
The pair have been patient for their opportunity, having both been named on the bench for the first time for the 2-2 draw at Luton Town on October 1.
Both players came off the bench at the Stadium of Light though, with ter Avest replacing Peter Kioso with quarter of an hour to go, and Goodwin coming on for Dane Scarlett six minutes later.
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U’s head coach Des Buckingham said: “Both are ready to start, but in order to start, they need to take the shirt off somebody else.
“When the team’s been playing the way they have, and picking up points, if one of them is going to start, you have to take that away from someone.
“There are ways that can happen, whether it’s through performance or team selection and tactics, or injury and suspension.
“It’s about being patient and waiting for one of those opportunities to present itself.”