Erik Ten Hag: Defensive recruits available for Fulham opener

Erik ten Hag has confirmed new signings Matthijs de Ligt and Noussair Mazraoui will go straight into Manchester United's squad for Friday’s Premier League opener against Fulham.

Having completed deals for forward Joshua Zirkzee and teenage defender Leny Yoro, the Red Devils completed a double deal with Bayern Munich on Tuesday.

Ten Hag worked with both players at Ajax and confirmed they would be involved against Fulham as United start the campaign with some absentees.

"Issues are there but it’s not about the players who are not available," the Dutchman said. "It’s also what I said always last season.

"It’s about the players who are available and we have a good group, we can make a strong selection, we can put out a strong team so we will do."

Asked if De Ligt and Mazraoui were ready to start, he said: "They will be in the squad. Harry Maguire will be in the squad as well."

Rasmus Hojlund and Yoro are out with injuries sustained on the pre-season tour of the United States, while left-backs Luke Shaw and Tyrell Malacia are unavailable just as they were at the end of last season.

The latter is recovering from a knee issue that kept him out of the entirety of the 2023/24 campaign, while Shaw is sidelined until after September's international break with a calf complaint.

"I think he will return in the short term," Ten Hag said of the England international. "It doesn’t take long.

"We are looking forward, of course, to Luke Shaw (returning). A very important player for our team.

"He is massively important so we want to get him back as soon as possible but we can’t force this process."