Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer faces an interesting selection issue ahead of their opening Premier League game against Leeds United at Old Trafford.
New signings Raphael Varane and Jadon Sancho are guaranteed to be starters for the season ahead at United, but neither of them have even met their teammates yet, and their Premier League opener gets underway in eight days.
A deal for Varane was agreed over a week ago, but the Frenchman has only just arrived in Manchester, and Sancho is reportedly not due back from holiday until next week.
This is something that Bruno Fernandes has suggested could be a concern.
Fernandes recently spoke with Manutd.com regarding the late arrivals of the new signings and said: “That’s the problem because they will arrive almost at the same time I did in terms of I trained two days and played straightaway!"
The United no.18 then added "I think it’s always difficult to change country and change club."
However, unlike Fernandes did, Solskjaer has suggested that the pair won't start against Leeds next Saturday, with Varane not even completing his medical yet.
United have began forming a more senior squad towards the end of their pre-season campaign in preparation for the Premier League's imminent start, but Sancho and Varane are yet to join up with their new side.
They are extremely doubtful to be in contention for United's final pre-season game against Everton tomorrow, but Solskjaer said:
"They (Sancho and Varane) still haven’t trained with us and I need to see how they are.
"I can’t see them being available for Everton but hopefully they will be ready to be on the bench (against Leeds).
The United manager also gave an update on the rest of the squad, and some players have had an extended summer break due to the international tournaments. Solskjaer revealed: "We’ve not got everyone back yet and we’re still lacking a few.
"Every year that there’s a championship it’s difficult. Luke (Shaw), Harry (Maguire) and Fred will only have the Everton game to prepare."
United stormed to a second placed finish last season and will be hoping that their new signings will help them challenge for the title this time around.
Champions Manchester City are clearly the team to beat however, and Pep Guardiola has strengthened his side even more, adding Jack Grealish to their ranks, with the club not giving up on signing Harry Kane from Tottenham just yet.
United will be looking to vastly improve on their start to last season, as they lost their opening two home games to Crystal Palace and Tottenham, the latter being the famous 6-1 thumping as Jose Mourinho's side ran riot.
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