No suspense left for Manchester United's starting lineup against Hull City! The 85 million new signing will anchor the double pivot, while Sesko is likely to miss the match

When Manchester United play Hull City away, the starting eleven is nearly a foregone conclusion. The team selected for the warm-up match against AC Milan is almost identical to the lineup expected for the Premier League first round against Hull. According to British media, replacing the center forward from Cunha with Mbeumo would result in the full-strength starting lineup for the opening match.

Carrick made several changes for the friendly against Leeds in Dublin, handing two academy players their starts. However, in the match against Milan in Wroclaw, he fielded essentially his strongest lineup, with Mbeumo not starting simply to get a rest.

Mbeumo has scored in both previous friendlies, and it is all but certain that he will replace the injured Benjamin Sesko as the center forward. The Manchester Evening News reports that Sesko might only return for the second round at home against Ipswich Town.

Cunha, who started against Milan, had not played in any of the earlier friendlies, so he urgently needed match practice. During the game, he went down and needed treatment from the medical staff, but fortunately he could continue playing and his availability as a substitute for the Premier League opener is unaffected.

At the same time, his appearance alongside Patrick Dorgu also represented a direct competition between the two, as they are expected to vie for a starting spot on the left wing. Dorgu scored against Milan, and having participated fully in preseason training and friendlies, he has also beaten Cunha and will be the starting left winger.

With Mbeumo playing as the number 9, the right wing position is also without suspense. The €40 million man Amad Diallo is the obvious choice, with his only competitor being youngster Shea Lacey. As for the number 10 role, despite missing penalties in both friendlies, club captain Bruno Fernandes' position is, of course, unshakeable.

Behind Bruno Fernandes, Andre Santos and Youri Tielemans will be the double pivot in the 4-2-3-1 formation. The £50 million new signing Santos is not a true number 6, but he should be more than sufficient against Premier League newcomers Hull City.

Mason Mount received high praise in the early friendlies, but unfortunately an injury interrupted his good progress. Tielemans is healthier and better, and has trained longer and is in better form than Kobbie Mainoo. Tielemans has already shown his quality, especially in quickly building an understanding with Bruno Fernandes, coming just a whisker away from a combination goal.

The 33-year-old veteran Maguire's starting center-back position has become rock solid due to De Ligt's long-term injury. His partner will be 19-year-old Ayden Heaven, who has started consistently in preseason and is expected to replace Leny Yoro, who often plays at right-back, in the starting lineup.

Before preseason began, it was widely believed that Yoro, who cost up to €60 million in transfer fees, would be one of the starters for the Premier League opener. But now Heaven has taken the advantageous position.

Lisandro Martinez, having played in the World Cup final, only participated in one week of training. He came on for the final 30 minutes against Milan and was directly responsible for the fourth goal conceded. That play also served as ample reason for him not being ready to start – he was pulled out of position, couldn't recover in time, and Ruben Loftus-Cheek capitalized to score.

Luke Shaw will definitely start at left-back. At right-back, both Mazraoui and Diogo Dalot have returned to preseason, with similar fitness levels and comparable quality. However, Carrick has started Mazraoui in two consecutive friendlies, which might indicate that he will be trusted in the match against Hull City next weekend.

Senna Lammers is firmly established as the starting goalkeeper. In the first half against AC Milan, he made a close-range save from Loftus-Cheek's shot, maintaining his solid form. With new signing Karl Darlow still injured, and veteran Tom Heaton unfortunately hurt and unlikely to return until the third round against Everton, there is no doubt or controversy over the first-choice goalkeeper.

Manchester United predicted starting lineup against Hull City: Lammers / Mazraoui, Maguire, Heaven, Luke Shaw / Santos, Tielemans / Amad, Bruno Fernandes, Dorgu / Mbeumo.