Man United travel to Hull City this afternoon for their first Premier League fixture of the season.
Manchester United embark on their first Premier League fixture of the season this afternoon as they travel to newly-promoted Hull City.
The Reds enter the game as heavy favourites but Michael Carrick insisted he was not underestimating the Tigers when asked about the challenge they will pose at his pre-match press conference. United have been boosted by the return of Benjamin Sesko to full training. The Slovenian forward missed all of United’s pre-season fixtures as he recovered from injury.
Karl Darlow is also back training but is United’s second-choice goalkeeper this season. Matthijs de Ligt has been ruled out, despite training this week, and Mason Mount is a doubt after he picked up a knock against Paris Saint-Germain earlier this month.
MEN Sport’s United writers have named the side they would start against Hull.
Steven Railston
United have a golden opportunity to get off to the perfect start and should have enough quality to secure an opening day win.
Noussair Mazraoui started at right-back against Milan last weekend, but I’d bring Diogo Dalot back into the team. I would start Leny Yoro alongside Harry Maguire in central defence, although Carrick seems likely to pick Ayden Heaven to partner the 33-year-old. This season is Yoro’s third at Old Trafford, and he should be starting games regularly if he is to become the defender United believe he can.
The midfield picks itself, given Mount is an injury doubt and Kobbie Mainoo only played 30 minutes in pre-season, and I’d go with an attack of Amad, Bryan Mbeumo and Patrick Dorgu, who should all cause Hull problems with their pace.
Jack Flintham
Carrick’s first major selection decision is at right-back with Mazraoui and Dalot battling it out for a start. I would lean towards Mazraoui, with Luke Shaw on the opposite flank and Heaven partnering Maguire at centre-back.
In midfield, Mount will have been desperate to solidify his spot in the centre but, once again, an injury has scuppered his plans. With that in mind, Andrey Santos should be partnered by Youri Tielemans. The former Aston Villa man has more match fitness than Mainoo but next week the battle to start in midfield will be fiercer.
In attack, Sesko’s return is a boost but it would be risky throwing him into the starting line-up. Mbeumo has impressed leading the line and should keep his spot. I would also prefer to see Matheus Cunha on the left over Dorgu, but that battle is a close-run thing.
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