Manchester United take on Rosenborg in the club’s second pre-season fixture, with the game kicking off at 5pm on July 24.
Pre-season began with a 1-0 defeat for United against Wrexham in Helsinki. But results are secondary, it is the performances that matter along with the all-important fitness work.
Ahead of the game in Trondheim, here is a memo for Michael Carrick, the 10 things I want to see…
Raise the levels
Let’s be honest, Manchester United’s match with Wrexham was pretty flat. United did control possession, particularly in the second half, but rarely actually looked like hitting the target.
Rosenborg will be a tougher opponent than Wrexham, they are midway through their domestic season, so this will be a real test of the players’ fitness. I want to see the players raise their levels and give us something to shout about.
Andrey Santos to keep up the momentum
New signing Andrey Santos started against Wrexham and showed some promising signs. He left United fans wanting to see more.
It’s unclear if United’s starters will play 45 minutes or 60, but if it is the latter, let’s give Santos the maximum. He needs as much time as possible to build chemistry with his new teammates, and Rosenborg will test him defensively.
What did YOU make of Andrey Santos’ pre-season debut for Man Utd vs Wrexham?
Santos played 45 minutes in the first half…
Double down on Leny Yoro
I was not too happy to see Leny Yoro used as right-back against Wrexham. I really want to see the Yoro partnership with Ayden Heaven explored. But I don’t think this will happen, and so I’m happy to back down on the right-back experiment.
There’s no point playing Yoro there for 45 minutes in just one game, it’s hard to learn much that way. Give him two or three games there to learn until Diogo Dalot or Noussair Mazraoui return.
Find a way to play through Zirkzee
The travelling squad has not been confirmed yet, but I am not expecting that we see Benjamin Sesko on it. He was not pictured in training at the start of the week. Even if he does travel, Joshua Zirkzee is the likely starter.
Like most United fans, I’m not convinced by Zirkzee. Here, Michael Carrick needs to try and find a way to play through him. Zirkzee needs to establish a connection with his fellow attackers, and something needs to work. United’s attack should always feel threatening, and that’s rarely the case when Zirkzee starts. How about we find a way to change that?
Name your biggest positive and biggest negative from Man Utd’s game vs Wrexham…
The stats showed how well Man Utd played vs Wrexham…
Demand impact from Bryan Mbeumo
I was a little disappointed with Bryan Mbeumo in the opener. With so many first team stars absent and Sesko injured, we are going to be relying on Mbeumo for goals. He struggled in the second half of last season after AFCON, and I want the summer’s rest to have done him good.
Mbeumo still looked a little rusty against Wrexham, so I’d love to see him shake the cobwebs off and the the dynamic player on a mission that he was when he arrived in pre-season in the US last summer.
Dan Gore with the starters
I wasn’t quite convinced by Jack Fletcher as part of the starting midfield three against Wrexham. The one player who really did stand out in the second half was Dan Gore, who had a strong season on loan in 2025/26.
Gore faces an uphill battle to fight his way into United’s plans, but he currently has a chance. Carrick will gain a much better understanding of what he is capable of by starting him alongside Santos and Mount. Gore has a gritty side to his game that could compliment the pair well.
Chido Obi over Ethan Wheatley
I have no guarantee that Chido Obi is the answer for United in attack, but I did not see anything from Ethan Wheatley in his 45 minutes to suggest that he is capable of making an impact at first team level. Obi watched from the bench against Wrexham and will be desperate for his chance.
United need to make a decision over Obi, whether he stays or goes on loan, and Carrick needs to give him a shot in pre-season to see him in action.
Centre-midfield chance for Jacob Devaney
Jacob Devaney earned praise from Michael Carrick for his authoritative performance in central defence against Wrexham. It might have been enough to earn him a proper look in midfield.
Devaney impressed on loan at St Mirren last season, and has been clear that he wants to push for a first team spot. Give him a chance in his favoured position before the more senior first team players return.
Which Man Utd academy midfielder do you feel has the biggest case to be in Michael Carrick’s squad next season?
A chance for JJ Gabriel
15-year-old sensation JJ Gabriel has been training with the first team this week, as he regularly did last season. He is in contention to be named in the travelling squad to Norway.
If Gabriel is selected to travel, then he needs to play. Throwing him into a competitive game is a huge deal, and a moment United have to choose wisely. The club have an opportunity to inform themselves ahead of a potential debut, by test-running it in pre-season. Even if he only plays for 15 minutes against Rosenborg, it will be enough to learn from.
Find a way to utilise Jim Thwaites
Jim Thwaites was an unused substitute against Wrexham. His minutes are going to be squeezed even further by time the World Cup stars return. So it’s possible this could be his last opportunity to get some game time this summer.
Thwaites is a unique profile in the squad due to his speciality at dead ball situations. Similar to Gabriel, he might only need 15 minutes to show what he is capable of.
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