Youri Tielemans and Andrey Santos Set for Competitive Debuts

Youri Tielemans and Andrey Santos are poised to step into the real thing at last. After weeks of friendly dress rehearsals, Manchester United’s two new midfield faces are expected to make their competitive bows against Hull City this weekend.

Santos, the £50million summer arrival from Chelsea, has barely missed a minute of United’s warm-up tour. Six friendlies, six appearances. Carrick has leaned on him throughout pre-season, and that rhythm points towards a starting berth in the heart of midfield on Saturday afternoon.

Tielemans has taken a different route to the same stage. His World Cup run with Belgium, helping them reach the quarter-finals, earned him a mandatory three-week break and a late return to club duty. Any rust looked gone by the time he completed 90 minutes against AC Milan in United’s final friendly, a useful indicator that he is ready to be thrown straight into the competitive spotlight.

Midfield Strategy

Carrick’s first full campaign as permanent head coach begins with familiar ideas. He is likely to stick with the same midfield trio that started the 4-2 defeat to Milan in Poland, with captain Bruno Fernandes restored to his favoured No10 role, operating just behind the front line and knitting the play together.

Defensive Setup

At the back, the picture is less settled. Lisandro Martinez’s lack of match sharpness hangs over the selection meeting and could open the door for Ayden Heaven. The youngster is pushing to partner Harry Maguire in central defence against one of Maguire’s former clubs, with Leny Yoro at risk of missing out.

Some positions feel locked in. Senne Lammens is set to keep goal, Luke Shaw should slot in at left-back. The right flank of the defence, though, remains a straight shootout: Diogo Dalot or Noussair Mazraoui. Both have strong claims, and Carrick’s call there will say plenty about how he wants United to build from the back in these early weeks.

Forward Dynamics

Further forward, Patrick Dorgu has quietly rewritten his own job description. Either side of the cruel injury he suffered in January against Arsenal, he has been reshaped into a left-winger, adding pace and direct running high up the pitch. That evolution has created a genuine headache for Carrick, because Matheus Cunha also does his most dangerous work drifting in from that same left channel.

The domino effect continues through the front line. With Benjamin Sesko not yet ready to start after a three-month lay-off, Cunha is expected to move inside again and lead the line as a central striker. That switch frees up the flanks: Bryan Mbeumo can slide back out to the right, while Dorgu battles to keep his grip on the left.

New signings, reshaped roles, big calls at the back. Carrick’s first full season starts with a team sheet that will reveal exactly how bold he plans to be.