Manchester United Set to Debut Youri Tielemans and Andrey Santos

Manchester United are ready to throw new boys Youri Tielemans and Andrey Santos straight into the Premier League fire, with both in line for competitive debuts in today’s opener away to Hull City.

Santos, a £50million summer arrival from Chelsea, has been driven hard through pre-season. He featured in all six friendlies, rarely out of sight, and that workload points to a starting berth in the heart of Michael Carrick’s midfield at the MKM Stadium this afternoon.

Tielemans’ route has been different. The Belgian joined later after a post-World Cup break following his country’s run to the quarter-finals, but any rust has been shaken off. He completed 90 minutes against Ruben Amorim’s AC Milan in Poland, a key outing that should leave him ready to go from the first whistle in the league.

Carrick, gearing up for his first full campaign as permanent Manchester United head coach, looks set to lean on familiarity in the middle of the pitch. The same trio that began the 4-2 defeat to Milan could be reunited: Santos and Tielemans behind captain Bruno Fernandes, who is expected to operate in his favoured No10 role, pulling strings between the lines.

Defensive Lineup

At the back, the picture is far less settled.

Lisandro Martinez’s lack of match sharpness has opened the door for youth. Highly rated defender Ayden Heaven could be handed a bold start alongside Harry Maguire, with Leny Yoro potentially the one to miss out against one of Maguire’s former clubs. It would be a significant show of faith from Carrick if Heaven gets the nod on opening day.

Senne Lammens is set to keep goal, with Luke Shaw locked in at left-back. The right side, though, remains a straight duel. Diogo Dalot and Noussair Mazraoui are battling for that spot, and Carrick’s call there will say plenty about how he wants this team to build attacks from deep.

Forward Line

Further forward, one of the more intriguing subplots sits on the left flank. Patrick Dorgu has been reshaped as a left winger, his game transformed on that side either side of a cruel injury suffered in January against Arsenal. His emergence in that role clashes directly with the strengths of Matheus Cunha, who does his best work from the same channel.

The injury list has forced a rethink. With Benjamin Sesko not ready to start after a three-month lay-off, Cunha is expected to deputise through the middle again as a central striker. That switch clears the lane for Dorgu to stay wide on the left, while Bryan Mbeumo shifts back out to the right of the attack.

New signings in the engine room, a reshuffled defence, a makeshift No9, and a head coach entering his first full season in charge: Manchester United are not easing into this campaign. They are rolling the dice from day one.