Manchester United have taken two players on pre-season tour who could be like new signings

Although results are not the be-all and end-all in pre-season, Manchester United have reasons to be positive after their first three friendlies this summer.

The Reds have won each of their opening three warm-up matches without conceding a single goal, defeating Leeds United (2-0), Lyon (1-0) and Arsenal (2-0). Some of the football, at times, has been eye-catching and free-flowing.

After playing no part in the victories over Leeds and Lyon, United welcomed their international contingent back into the frame for the win over Arsenal in New Jersey on Saturday. It marked a crossing of a stepping stone in their pre-season campaign.

The triumph over the Gunners saw Luke Shaw, Bruno Fernandes and Alejandro Garnacho recalled to the starting XI, whereas the likes of Diogo Dalot, Christian Eriksen, Marcus Rashford and Casemiro had to settle for starting on the bench. United were 2-0 up by the time the aforementioned quartet came on and they were unable to add to the first half goals that had been plundered by Jadon Sancho and Fernandes.

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Though the finishes from Fernandes and Sancho were instinctive and emphatic, much of the credit was owed to youngster Kobbie Mainoo, who played a prominent role in both goals. For the first, he played a pass inside to Fernandes, who motored forward and then unleashed a shot that was too hot for Aaron Ramsdale to handle, before sending a hopeful punt up-field that was missed by Gabriel, found Sancho and sent him scampering free to score.

Mainoo, following the returns of Eriksen and Casemiro, could have been