Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has confirmed that new signings Matthijs de Ligt and Noussair Mazraoui are both available to make their debut in Friday’s Premier League opener.
De Ligt and Mazraoui only arrived from Bayern Munich on Tuesday but are in good shape and therefore in contention to play straightaway.
Speaking at his pre-match press conference, Ten Hag didn’t offer insight as to whether either will start the game against Fulham but at least confirmed: “They will be in the squad.”
Harry Maguire, who is expected to be De Ligt’s primary competition for a place, is also available after being considered a minor doubt in the wake of last weekend’s Community Shield. But there is no Luke Shaw, which could present the versatile Mazraoui an immediate route into the team.
De Ligt and Mazraoui have the added benefit of familiarity, having both previously played extensively under Ten Hag at Ajax, as well as with each other at Bayern.
It’s feasible that De Ligt could slot in at centre-back alongside Lisandro Martinez, ironically the player who replaced him at Ajax, with Diogo Dalot at right-back and Mazraoui on the left.
Fellow summer arrival Joshua Zirkzee is also still awaiting his United debut after remaining an unused substitute for the Community Shield. The Dutchman was tipped beforehand to start that game as a lone striker in the injury absence of Rasmus Hojlund, but Ten Hag opted to utilise captain Bruno Fernandes as a ‘false nine’ flanked by Marcus Rashford and Amad Diallo instead.
United will be determined to get off to a strong start in the new campaign. They have famously opened the Premier League season against Fulham at home twice in the past: in 2001 when Ruud van Nistelrooy, now back as an assistant coach, scored a brace on his home debut; and in 2006 when Wayne Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo combined to devastating effect in a thumping 5-1 win.
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