Erik ten Hag can unleash his new Manchester United midfield for the first time vs Real Madrid

When Manchester United tweeted their starting line-up for the clash with Arsenal at the MetLife Stadium on Saturday evening, all eyes instantly went in search of one name.

Andre Onana was, of course, the talk of the town after sealing his move to United from Inter Milan just over 48 hours earlier. Soon after completing the formalities at Carrington, he hopped back on a plane, crossed the Atlantic and linked up with his new teammates in New Jersey.

It would have been a big ask for him to start against the Gunners at the end of a whirlwind few days. He was not included in the matchday squad, but he did participate in the pre-match warm-up, giving United's US-based fans a first glimpse of what he will bring to Old Trafford.

After a few more days of training, though, it is highly likely that he will make his United bow against Real Madrid in Houston on Wednesday evening (early on Thursday in the UK). Manager Erik ten Hag will be keen to give him his first run-out and see how he and United adapt to one another.

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Should he get the nod between the posts, Ten Hag, for the first time in this pre-season campaign, could name a starting line-up that resembles something close to what most people consider as his strongest XI, albeit without the striker that United crave so desperately. United are now less than three weeks away from their Premier League opener against Wolves and the clash with Madrid at the NRG Stadium will see them pass the halfway mark in their pre-season schedule.

It means, as the clock continues to