Ruben Amorim smiles in the Manchester United gym at Carrington.
Ruben Amorim has some big decisions to make in the next few weeks.
Pre-season preparations are well under way at Carrington.
Some members of Manchester United's first-team squad started to return to the club's training base on Monday before those who were on international duty at the end of last season reported back on Thursday.
Accounting for all the images and training ground footage shared by United throughout the week, 31 players have been spotted participating in training at various stages.
After doing fitness and conditioning testing in the gym, head coach Ruben Amorim is now overseeing matters out on the grass. United's opening friendly is against Leeds United in Stockholm on July 19 and he will be keen to see his side hit the ground running.
Pre-season is the ideal time for head coaches to get their ideas across, implement their plans and edge closer towards working out a first-choice starting XI ahead of the competitive action beginning in August.
With just two new signings through the door so far, Amorim, unless things change quickly between now and a-week-on-Saturday, will not be deploying a team too dissimilar to the one that ended last season in Sweden.
Matheus Cunha is set to become a guaranteed starter at Old Trafford, occupying the left-sided No.10 spot, while it remains to be seen how big a role left-back Diego Leon could play in his first season at the club.
United remain hungry to strengthen their attack this summer, prioritising the signings of Brentford star Bryan Mbeumo and out-and-out centre-forward. They are also keen to sign a midfielder and a goalkeeper.
One area that is not in desperate need of modification, though, is the centre-back department. Despite saying farewell to Jonny Evans and Victor Lindelof at the end of last month, United are still well-stocked at the back.
Noussair Mazraoui (left) and Matthijs de Ligt are centre-back options for Manchester United. (Image: Ash Donelon/Manchester United via Getty Images.)
As things currently stand, United's senior centre-back options consist of Matthijs de Ligt, Harry Maguire, Lisandro Martinez, Leny Yoro and Ayden Heaven. Youngsters Tyler Fredricson, Godwill Kukonki and Reece Munro are also pushing to enter the first-team conversation on a regular basis.
Furthermore, Noussair Mazraoui and Luke Shaw, who are both full-backs by trade, have also shown they are capable of operating at centre-back in Amorim's 3-4-2-1 system. They are both highly versatile and are good options to have.
However, based on how the opening week of pre-season has unfolded, Amorim might have already settled on his preferred back-three ahead of the upcoming clash with Leeds. Neither Martinez, who is still recovering from a long-term anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury, or Maguire have been spotted at Carrington in images released by the club.
On the flip side, De Ligt, Yoro and Heaven have all been present. The trio have joined United within the last 12 months and have a very realistic chance of trying to establish themselves as the members of Amorim's first-choice defence this pre-season.
Heaven has put himself in the conversation to become a regular starter at Old Trafford much quicker than anyone could have anticipated after his arrival from Arsenal at the beginning of February. He had made just one senior appearance for the Gunners, meaning it was surprising United immediately considered him as a first-team player.
However, his performances quickly backed up their thinking. He has not put a foot wrong since arriving at Old Trafford, offering an excellent reading of the game, tremendous ability on the ball and so much more. Additionally, he is also left-footed.
Ayden Heaven has not put a foot wrong since arriving at Old Trafford. (Image: Jean Catuffe/Getty Images.)
With Martinez still sidelined, the left-sided centre-back spot is Heaven's to lose this summer. However, Yoro produced some excellent performances on the left towards the end of last term and he could also creep into Amorim's thinking.
When United transitioned to a back-three last November, Yoro was immediately tipped to become Amorim's first-choice right-sided centre-back. That situation could still transpire amid Heaven's suitability on the left.
De Ligt is capable of playing on either the right or in the centre of the defence, meaning he is equally comfortable in two roles. But with Maguire yet to have been spotted in training, the Dutchman could find himself starting pre-season in the centre of the defence, flanked by Yoro and Heaven either side of him.
Yoro and Heaven were signed by United to become mainstays in the defence for years to come and there is a very good chance they could nail down their places over the coming weeks.