Manchester United vs Leeds United: Pre-Season Clash at Croke Park
Manchester United step up their preparations for the new Premier League season tonight with a familiar foe in a famous setting: Leeds United at Croke Park in Dublin, their penultimate outing of the summer.
Two games left, then Hull City away on August 22. The tune‑up phase is almost over, and Michael Carrick knows it. This stage is no longer about gentle experimentation; it is about sharpening the core of his first team.
Carrick leans towards minutes for his main men
Senne Lammens is expected to make his first start of pre-season after illness ruled him out of the clash with Paris Saint-Germain. His return gives United a chance to settle things at the back, where Carrick is still weighing up combinations.
Noussair Mazraoui started against PSG, but Diogo Dalot is pushing for more time and could get the nod in Dublin. Ayden Heaven struggled at the weekend, so pairing Leny Yoro with Harry Maguire feels a logical adjustment as United look for stability in central defence.
Midfield puzzle after Mount scare
In midfield, Andrey Santos and Mason Mount have built a promising understanding over the summer. Then came the jolt in Gothenburg: Mount withdrawn midway through the first half. Both player and manager stressed it was precautionary, but with the season so close, Carrick has little reason to gamble.
That opens the door for Youri Tielemans. The Belgian is yet to start alongside Santos, and Croke Park offers a timely stage for their first outing as a pair.
Ahead of them, captain Bruno Fernandes is ready to step up. He played his first minutes of the summer at the weekend and is expected to start in the No.10 role, replacing youngster Shea Lacey. This is a pause, not a full stop, for Lacey. Inside the club, there is a clear expectation he will feature more often for the first team over the course of the season.
Rashford returns, but not yet centre stage
Marcus Rashford is back with the squad in Dublin, his future still unresolved but his reintegration under way. For now, this is about minutes and mood rather than headlines. A starting place looks unlikely, with Carrick easing him back into the fold.
The same applies to Kobbie Mainoo and Lisandro Martinez, both recently returned from World Cup duty. Their influence will matter when the real games begin, but this evening is more likely to bring controlled cameos than full-throttle starts.
Wide options and the striker call
Amad impressed on the right flank on Saturday and has done enough to keep his place. On the opposite side, Patrick Dorgu may continue as he learns the nuances of the left-wing role. Carrick could instead turn to Matheus Cunha, provided the Brazilian has fully shaken off the illness that sidelined him at the weekend.
Up front sits the biggest temptation. Carrick would love to unleash Benjamin Sesko, but the striker has not played since the win over Liverpool at Old Trafford last season. Until Sesko is fully ready, Bryan Mbeumo looks set to lead the line.
Mbeumo has been one of United’s standout performers this pre-season, his form turning the centre-forward decision into the simplest call of the night. With Hull looming and questions still swirling around key figures, Croke Park offers Carrick something invaluable: a near-final look at what this United side might really become.
