Early team news for Friday night

The wait for a new season of Premier League football at Old Trafford is nearly over, with Manchester United’s opening fixture against Fulham quickly approaching.

The Friday-night showdown (20:00 BST) is the curtain-raiser for a new top-flight campaign, and with excitement levels rising, we have been taking a look at how both squads are shaping up in advance of the first weekend. 

The signings of Matthijs de Ligt and Noussair Mazraoui, confirmed on Tuesday, may provide extra options for Erik ten Hag, but will they be involved? Here’s what we know…

UNITED’S TEAM NEWS

The boss could provide an update on the availability of De Ligt and Mazraoui when he conducts his pre-match media duties on Thursday, so be sure to keep an eye on ManUtd.com and the United App for the latest news.

Joshua Zirkzee is another summer incoming who could make his Reds bow on Friday, having not been brought off the bench in last weekend’s Community Shield meeting with Man City. Erik, meanwhile, may have fresh information on Victor Lindelof, who missed that outing as he bids to make a comeback from a problem picked up in our final pre-season game against Liverpool.

Encouragingly, Diogo Dalot, Bruno Fernandes, Alejandro Garnacho, Kobbie Mainoo, Lisandro Martinez and Facundo Pellistri all got minutes under their belts at Wembley, having returned later in the summer from their national-team commitments, and they will be hopeful of building on that versus Fulham.

Ten Hag will, however, be without Luke Shaw, Rasmus Hojlund, Tyrell Malacia and Leny Yoro who are currently working to return from injuries.

FULHAM’S TEAM NEWS

Fulham have reported no injury concerns ahead of the opening-night clash, and we may find out if that is still the case when Marco Silva holds his pre-match press conference at 16:00 BST this (Wednesday) afternoon.

Defender Jorge Cuenca and midfielder Emile Smith Rowe could get their first taste of competitive football for the Cottagers at Old Trafford, following their summer moves from Villarreal and Arsenal respectively.

Ryan Sessegnon, a full-back previously of Tottenham, has also returned to the club that he successfully came through the youth ranks of, and he may make his second Fulham debut on Friday.

Tosin Adarabioyo (Chelsea), Joao Palhinha (Bayern Munich) and Tim Ream (Charlotte FC) are among those to have departed Craven Cottage for pastures new since Silva last brought his team to M16 in February.

HOW TO WATCH AND FOLLOW

Tune into MUTV from 18:55 BST on Friday for our Match Day Live show, featuring over an hour of exclusive build-up to the big kick-off, with special guests Dion Dublin and John O’Shea.

Live radio commentary follows along with post-match reaction from Old Trafford after the final whistle of the fixture, which will be broadcast live in the UK on Sky Sports.

ManUtd.com and the United App will have in-game updates, interviews, stats, interactive content and much more for you too via our Match Centre, along with the highlights from midnight on Saturday.

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