Manchester United have personnel to use surprise formation vs Brighton

Manchester United have yet to discover what life under Erik ten Hag will be like, but the innovative Dutchman has already brought calmness and structure to his selection process. However, could there be scope for the manager to throw down a wildcard on the opening day against Brighton?

Had things gone to plan in the transfer window, Cristiano Ronaldo might have been on his way with United reassigning his famous number 7 shirt for a third straight season. In reality, the exact opposite happened and United continue to roll with the punches in what has been an equally promising and frustrating off-season.

Rewind to departure time for the summer tour and very few would have believed what they went on to see from rejuvenated France striker Anthony Martial, but he in tandem with Jadon Sancho and Marcus Rashford offered a glimpse of what life without Ronaldo might be like.

READ MORE: Ten Hag slams Ronaldo questions

United struggled for non-Ronaldo goals last season. In the space of a few days, though, Ten Hag found his solution with Sancho right, Rashford left and Martial central in a front three.

However, that plan of attack will have to be re-worked at the 11th hour with Martial injured and Ronaldo not yet at full fitness, even though the five-time Ballon d'Or winner might have to start against Brighton on Sunday afternoon. But there are other options.

Rashford could be deployed through the middle with Bruno Fernandes and Christian Eriksen dovetailing at number 10 and on the left-hand side, while Anthony Elanga is another contender for that role. Rashford, though, remains key to that preferred formation and a tweak which Ten Hag might have to consider in these circumstances.

Speaking about his versatility in an interview from