Manchester United hand competitive debuts to Youri Tielemans and Andrey Santos in their Premier League opener against Hull today, with Marcus Rashford on the bench.
Santos and Tielemans start in midfield
Santos, a £50million summer signing from Chelsea, was a regular during pre-season, taking part in all six friendlies, which suggested he would start in midfield for the Red Devils at the MKM Stadium this afternoon.
Fellow midfield recruit Tielemans, meanwhile, was a late arrival after a post-World Cup holiday that followed Belgium’s run to the quarter-finals but he should now be up to speed after completing 90 minutes against Ruben Amorim’s AC Milan in Poland.
Carrick names same midfield trio
As Michael Carrick prepares for a first full season as permanent Man Utd head coach, he names the same midfield trio that started the 4-2 loss to Milan, with captain Bruno Fernandes in his favoured No10 role.
There were decisions to make in defence as Lisandro Martinez’s lack of match sharpness sees youngster Ayden Heaven get the nod over Leny Yoro to partner Harry Maguire against one of his former clubs.
Rashford on the bench
Senne Lammens and Luke Shaw start in goal and at left-back respectively, with Noussair Mazraoui preferred to Diogo Dalot for the right-back spot.
Patrick Dorgu, either side of a cruel injury blow suffered in January against Arsenal, has been transformed as a left winger, creating a selection dilemma for Carrick as Matheus Cunha does his best work from that position.
However, with Benjamin Sesko only on the bench after a three-month injury lay-off, the Brazilian can deputise as a central striker once again, meaning Bryan Mbeumo moves back out to the right-hand side of the attack.
Mason Mount is not ready to return against Hull, while Matthijs de Ligt, Manuel Ugarte and Tom Heaton are all sidelined.
Manchester United XI: Lammens; Mazraoui, Maguire, Heaven, Shaw; Tielemans, Santos; Mbeumo, Fernandes, Dorgu; Cunha
Subs: Darlow, Dalot, Martinez, Yoro, Mainoo, Lacey, Rashford, Sesko, Zirkzee
Injured: De Ligt, Ugarte, Heaton, Mount
Time and date: 12.30pm BST on Saturday August 22, 2026
Venue: MKM Stadium, Hull
How to watch: TNT Sports
