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Manchester Evening News
Manchester Evening News
Sport
Samuel Luckhurst & Richard Fay & Steven Railston

How Manchester United should line up vs Real Betis in friendly

Manchester United take on La Liga side Real Betis at the Benito Villamarin Stadium in a friendly on Saturday evening.

United have trained in Spain this week to prepare for the return of the domestic schedule and they were beaten 4-2 by Cadiz in a midweek friendly, with Anthony Martial and Kobbie Mainoo getting on the scoresheet.

The visit to Spain has been a defacto academy trip, with the majority of the first-team squad currently in Qatar for the World Cup, but there are several experienced first-team players in the squad that have made the trip.

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David de Gea was absent for the Cadiz match but he's returned to training and is expected to start against Betis.

Here's how our MEN writers think United should start.

Samuel Luckhurst

Starting Aaron Wan-Bissaka was pointless against Cadiz and United need an engaged right-back to get up to speed. Marc Jurado deserves an opportunity from the start.

Mainoo is possibly the most talented member of the FA Youth Cup-winning squad and it would be useful to judge him as a starter. Zidane Iqbal linked up well with Martial to win a penalty against Cadiz and merits more minutes.

Shola Shoretire is another left-sided winger who could do with a stint on the right, as United need credible cover there for Antony.

Rich Fay

It's another match in which you can't read too much into the line-ups, but Ten Hag needs to start turning his focus onto the Burnley match and a return to competitive action.

Wan-Bissaka doesn't appear to have a future at the club, so there is little point in using him in these matches. Sam Murray starts on the left in order to facilitate Brandon Williams' change of flanks.

Scott McTominay and Iqbal are worthy of starts, and Mainoo would be deserving of one given that he actually has a role to play going forward.

There is no real compelling argument to change the forward line, but it would be great to see Charlie McNeill get another chance from the bench, given he might have a senior role to play in the coming weeks.

Steven Railston

The only reason to play Wan-Bissaka here would be to ensure he's not lacking fitness for a move away in January. A friendly is hardly a gauge of a player's ability, but any potential suitors might be tracking his progress and well-being.

Wan-Bissaka needs a fresh start and he may have already made his final competitive appearance for United. The same can be said for Van de Beek, but his presence alongside McTominay should give Iqbal the platform to express himself.

Mainoo should be brought on at half-time again and it would be interesting to see him in midfield with McTominay and Iqbal after the break. Shoretire should be given a chance on the left wing with Alejandro Garnacho starting on the right side.

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