How Manchester United should line up vs Man City in Community Shield fixture

Manchester United take on Manchester City in the Community Shield on Saturday afternoon.

United won the FA Cup thanks to a stunning victory over City in May and the two sides will meet again at Wembley this weekend for the Community Shield. The fixture is the United's last this summer before the start of the new Premier League campaign and Erik ten Hag must oversee a drastic improvement after a dismal 2023/24.

Joshua Zirkzee and Leny Yoro have been signed, but Yoro sustained a metatarsal injury on tour in the United States and has been ruled out of action for around three months. Rasmus Hojlund is set to be sidelined for up to six weeks with a hamstring injury, while Harry Maguire, Luke Shaw, Victor Lindelof and Aaron Wan-Bisska are fitness doubts.

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Here's how our writers think United should line up against City...

Samuel Luckhurst

United have to strike a balance of selecting tour participants and those durable enough who were not on tour. Diogo Dalot and Bruno Fernandes are hardly ever injured and the former is needed in a depleted defence. As is Lisandro Martinez.

Kobbie Mainoo should not be risked and, without him, United's midfield is in disarray. Casemiro starts by default but Toby Collyer's bustling energy deserves a run-out in a competitive game.

Alejandro Garnacho did not play much at the Copa America and the last time he was not in a United starting XI was against City in October. This 'new' United cannot start the season with Jadon Sancho up front and Joshua Zirkzee did not have a taxing European Championship.

Steven Railston

Martinez and Shaw should start together for the first time