Manchester United's pre-season preparations are up and running at Carrington, and they'll play their first fixture against Leeds United in Oslo on Wednesday. It will mark the first of seven friendlies that United are scheduled to play ahead of the big kick-off on Monday, August 14.
As ever, pre-season will represent an opportunity for every member of the squad to try and make a name for themselves ahead of the start of the forthcoming Premier League campaign. United's non-international contingent are due back at the start of July while the international members of the squad are set to report back from July 10.
Members of each group will be at different stages with their fitness levels in the opening couple of weeks, meaning the Oslo fixture and the game against Lyon in Edinburgh on July 19 could pave the way for some of the club's younger players to get opportunities to prove their worth to Erik ten Hag.
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With that in mind, MEN Sport has taken a close look at three youngsters within Erik ten Hag's squad that will be looking to audition for a place in the Dutchman's squad ahead of the forthcoming campaign.
Alvaro Fernandez
In the opposite full-back position, Fernandez will be hoping to force his way into Ten Hag's plans for next season after an impressive season-long loan spell at Preston North End in 2022/23. The Spaniard made the most of his first career loan spell, making 42 appearances in all competitions at Deepdale.
Just like in the situation Laird will face, the chances of Fernandez forcing his way into Ten Hag's plans have been made harder by Luke Shaw and Tyrell Malacia being ahead of him in the pecking order. However, if he is given the opportunity to impress in pre-season, it could do wonders for him, both in the short-term and the long-term.
Many believe a loan move to a fellow Premier League club would be the next best step for Fernandez. If he gets the chance to impress in pre-season and he takes it, some bottom-half Premier League clubs could well be tempted to borrow him.
Kobbie Mainoo
Despite already having been integrated into the first-team squad, midfield ace Mainoo will be hoping to impress in pre-season in the same way that fellow midfielders Charlie Savage and Zidane Iqbal did last year. The 18-year-old made significant progress in 2022/23 and ended the campaign with three senior appearances to his name.
He was handed his full debut in the 3-0 win over Charlton Athletic in the quarter-finals of the Carabao Cup back in January and he will be hoping to kick on again next term. The Stockport-born midfielder, who is a box-to-box operator, is highly thought of by Ten Hag and he will be hoping to repay him during pre-season.
Mainoo leapfrogged Iqbal in the pecking order during the most recent campaign, despite the latter enjoying a successful pre-season. If Mainoo has a successful pre-season of his own, even bigger opportunities might not be too far away.
Amad
After a dazzling loan spell at Sunderland in 2022/23, all eyes are set to be on Amad this forthcoming pre-season. The Ivorian excelled at the Stadium of Light, scoring 14 goals and grabbing four assists in all competitions.
It is now hoped that the 20-year-old will be capable of making the step up and delivering the goods for United. Ten Hag is understood to be planning to run the rule over him in pre-season before making a concrete decision on his future.
Many believe that he would benefit from a loan spell elsewhere in the Premier League next season, ahead of being embedded within Ten Hag's long-term plans, once having found out if he has the capability to perform at the highest level. Nevertheless, pre-season should be treated as a big audition for the young winger.
