Carrick's New Era Begins at Hull City
Manchester United step into a fresh Premier League season on Saturday lunchtime, away at newly promoted Hull City, with Michael Carrick finally starting a campaign as the club’s permanent manager rather than the caretaker-turned-saviour.
Third place last season bought him credibility. A return to the Champions League for the first time in three years brings expectation. This trip to a side just up from the Championship is exactly the sort of fixture a serious contender has to control – and dominate.
Carrick knows it. So does his squad.
Injuries bite, but midfield rebuilt
United travel without several key names. Matthijs de Ligt is still out with a lower back problem, while Manuel Ugarte’s knee injury is likely to rule him out for most of the season. Tom Heaton is also unavailable.
Mason Mount, who took a knock to his foot in the 1–1 pre-season draw with PSG, faces a late fitness test. Benjamin Seško is back in full training after a shin issue, but his chances of featuring from the start are slim.
The upside for Carrick lies in the middle of the pitch. United’s engine room has been ripped up and reassembled.
Youri Tielemans and Andrey Santos are both in line for competitive debuts, anchoring a reshaped central midfield. Santos, a £50m signing from Chelsea, played in all six of United’s pre-season friendlies and has looked ready to step straight into the starting XI. Tielemans joined later, fresh from helping Belgium reach the World Cup quarter-finals, but underlined his fitness by completing 90 minutes in the final warm-up game against AC Milan.
If United are to control games at home and abroad this season, this is where it starts.
Heaven’s chance alongside Maguire
At the back, Ayden Heaven is poised for a major opportunity. The defender is expected to partner Harry Maguire in central defence, with Lisandro Martínez short of match sharpness after managing only around half an hour of pre-season football. Martínez is likely to be among the substitutes, joined by Kobbie Mainoo.
Diogo Dalot and Luke Shaw should continue in the full-back roles, offering width and a route into midfield when United build from deep.
Senne Lammens keeps his place in goal, trusted again to marshal a back line that will be tested physically by a promoted side desperate to make an early statement of their own.
New-look attack led by Mbeumo
Up front, the door opens for Bryan Mbeumo. An impressive pre-season has put him in pole position to lead the line, especially with Seško still racing to be fully ready.
Either side of him, Amad Diallo and Matheus Cunha bring pace, direct running and the willingness to attack defenders one-on-one. Between them, as ever, is captain Bruno Fernandes in his familiar No 10 role, stitching attacks together and setting the press.
It’s a front four built to be aggressive, to pin Hull back, and to show from day one that United intend to play on the front foot.
Predicted Manchester United XI
Carrick is expected to line up his side in a 4-2-3-1:
Lammens; Dalot, Maguire, Heaven, Shaw; Tielemans, Santos; Diallo, Fernandes, Cunha; Mbeumo
On paper, it’s a blend of continuity and change: the same structure, very different personnel in key areas.
Kick-off time and how to watch
Hull City vs Manchester United kicks off at 12:30 BST on Saturday, 22 August 2026.
In the UK, the game will be shown live on TNT Sports 1, TNT Sports Ultimate and HBO Max.
A new season, a new-look United, and a manager stepping into his first full campaign with Champions League football on the horizon. For Carrick, this isn’t just an opener at Hull. It’s the first test of whether last year’s progress can harden into a genuine title challenge.
