Manchester United's New Era Under Michael Carrick Begins at Hull
Manchester United’s new era under Michael Carrick begins at Hull today, and two fresh faces are set to walk straight into the Premier League spotlight.
Youri Tielemans and Andrey Santos are both in line for competitive debuts at the MKM Stadium, with Carrick ready to trust his rebuilt midfield from day one.
Santos to anchor, Tielemans to slot in
Santos, a £50million summer arrival from Chelsea, did everything asked of him in pre-season. Six friendlies, six appearances. Carrick kept him at the heart of things throughout the warm-up schedule, a clear sign he sees the Brazilian as a starter rather than a project.
All signs point to Santos beginning in midfield this afternoon, charged with setting the tempo and giving structure to a side still finding its identity under a first-time permanent head coach.
Tielemans’ route has been different, but the destination looks the same. The Belgian joined later after a post-World Cup break, his campaign extended by Belgium’s run to the quarter-finals. Any rust has been shaken off. He completed 90 minutes against Ruben Amorim’s AC Milan in Poland, a key fitness marker that puts him in contention to start.
Carrick could now roll out the same trio that began the 4-2 defeat to Milan: Santos deeper, Tielemans offering control and progression, and captain Bruno Fernandes unleashed in his favoured No10 role. It is a bold, technical core, and it will define how United attack this season.
Defensive dilemmas and a big chance for Heaven
At the back, the picture is less settled.
Lisandro Martinez’s lack of match sharpness has opened a door that few expected to see this early. Youngster Ayden Heaven is pushing to start alongside Harry Maguire, with Carrick weighing whether to trust the prospect or turn to Leny Yoro for the trip to one of Maguire’s former clubs.
Senne Lammens is set to start in goal, while Luke Shaw remains the undisputed choice at left-back. The right side of defence is another live battle: Diogo Dalot and Noussair Mazraoui are locked in a straight fight for the shirt, each offering something different in possession and out of it.
Carrick’s call there will say plenty about how adventurous he wants his full-backs to be away from home.
Dorgu’s rise and a reshaped forward line
Higher up the pitch, Patrick Dorgu has rewritten his own story.
Nominally a left-sided defender, he has been transformed into a left winger either side of the cruel injury he suffered against Arsenal in January. That reinvention has created a selection headache. Matheus Cunha does his best work from that same channel, drifting in, linking play, and dragging defenders out of shape.
Something has to give.
With Benjamin Sesko not yet ready to start after a three-month injury lay-off, Carrick is expected to reshuffle again. Cunha can step inside and deputise as a central striker, a role he has already filled, freeing Dorgu to stay wide on the left.
That switch would push Bryan Mbeumo back to the right flank, restoring a more natural balance to the front three and giving United pace and movement across the line.
New signings, bold calls, and a head coach about to begin his first full season in charge: United arrive at Hull with a fresh midfield, live debates in defence, and an attack stitched together by necessity. How quickly this new structure clicks will tell plenty about where Carrick’s project is really heading.
