How many Premier League debuts will the Manchester United supporters be treated to during Friday’s curtain-raiser with Fulham?
After watching on from the bench against Man City in the Community Shield last weekend, Joshua Zirkzee will hope to get onto the pitch for the first time in that famous red shirt.
There will be no Leny Yoro, of course, but Toby Collyer and Harry Amass could potentially have a part to play off the bench after a fine pre-season.
And then there is the two defenders brought in from Bayern Munich for a combined £50 million earlier in the week. Matthijs de Ligt and Noussair Mazraoui were officially confirmed as Manchester United players on Tuesday, signing in time to be registered for that Fulham clash at Old Trafford.
Manchester United reunite Erik ten Hag with Noussair Mazraoui
When pressed on Mazraoui, a potential bargain signing at less than £13 million, Ten Hag highlighted the two-footed full-back’s press resistant qualities as a key attribute.
Far more technically gifted than the man he replaces at Old Trafford – Aaron Wan-Bissaka – the Morocco international offers depth on either flank and looks well suited to his manager’s preferred set-up.
“I think it’s quite difficult to put him under pressure,” Ten Hag explains, via the Manchester Evening News. “Especially in English football, that can be very beneficial.”
Erik ten Hag did not confirm or deny whether De Ligt or Mazraoui would be thrown in at the deep end against Fulham.
But he does admit that two players who worked under him at Ajax will certainly be in the matchday roster when Marco Silva’s team come to town.
“They will be in the squad. And Harry Maguire will be in the squad as well,” Ten Hag says, via the Manchester Evening News.
There appears to be a pretty high chance that De Ligt and Mazraoui will find themselves thrust straight into the starting XI. Ten Hag had to call upon 36-year-old Jonny Evans again at Wembley. Yoro’s injury, meanwhile, ensures that De Ligt’s arrival was particularly well received.
Do not be surprised to see Mazraoui begin life a the left-back role befitting his new number three shirt, meanwhile.
Tyrell Malacia is still some way off a return to first-team action, while Luke Shaw’s own injury issues reared their ugly head again this week.
Lisandro Martinez started at left-back against Pep Guardiola’s City side, performing with typical aggression and determination even if there was a distinctly ‘square peg in a round hole’ feel about his performance on the flank.
“Issues are there, but it’s not about the players who are not available. It’s about the players who are available,” Ten Hag adds.
“We have a good group. We can make a strong selection. We can put out a strong team and we will do.
“We were looking and we can sort problems over the left side. For instance, Licha Martinez and Diogo Dalot are capable of playing there. Mazraoui is an additional one who can fill the position as long as Luke Shaw and Tyrell Malacia aren’t in the team.”
Fulham boss Marco Silva wary of Bruno Fernandes threat
As for Fulham, the West London outfit triumphed on their most recent visit to Old Trafford. Alex Iwobi fired in a 97th minute winner on the counter.
If they are to repeat the trick, Silva believes that Fulham must keep Man United captain Bruno Fernandes at arms’ length.
“Bruno Fernandes is a top player. Top, top player,” Silva says, via Beanyman Sports on YouTube. “I can say more about him. I think he’s one of the the crucial players for them.
“He is their captain, is is one of players with the most assists in this in this country, this Championship in the last three or four seasons. Every time he’s on the pitch, he can make an impact.
“He can score goals, can make assists. He’s a is a player with the knowledge about the game at really, really high level.”
“You can feel it every single moment of the game; Bruno can be decisive on the ball and off the ball,” adds former Watford, Everton and Olympiakos coach Silva.
“He’s going to be a player of course we look for. (We) have to be to be aware of his qualities because he can decide a match in any moment of the game.”
Receive a digest of our best United content each week direct to your mailbox
