Premier League action returns this weekend, with Manchester United set to face local rivals Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday afternoon. Following victory in just one of their opening three matches of the 2025/26 campaign, United have enjoyed a fortnight to gear up for the season's inaugural Manchester derby. Ruben Amorim's squad will be eager to become the third side to topple City following defeats to Brighton & Hove Albion and Tottenham.
The international hiatus arrived at an opportune moment for the Red Devils, with several players nursing knocks whilst others have regained full match sharpness. One star Amorim may deploy from the start at the Etihad is Noussair Mazraoui.
Throughout campaigns under both Erik ten Hag and Amorim, Mazraoui remained a mainstay in the United XI last season. The defender featured 57 times in all competitions before picking up a knock during the final day clash against Aston Villa.
Having made his comeback in the thrilling 3-2 triumph over Burnley in their previous outing, Mazraoui now represents a genuine contender for Amorim's defensive setup. Speaking recently to The National, the 27-year-old reflected on his maiden English campaign and the gruelling nature of Premier League football.
"On a personal level, my fitness and the amount of games I played, I can look back to a good season," he said. "In fitness, the Premier League is always different than the other competitions.
"No winter break, obviously. The games were following up really fast." He added: "You hope to stay fit and play as much as possible. That hadn't always been the case for me.
"The Premier League is a bigger demand than other competitions, so you must take even more of your body. I had a switch in my mindset - be fit and ready and I think that helped me play so many games."
United head into the derby with fitness concerns over Matheus Cunha and Mason Mount.
Both stars limped off during the clash with Burnley, leaving Amorim uncertain about their recovery timeframes. "It was hard to lose a player like Cunha and Mason Mount - Mount played like 30 minutes with an injury," said the head coach after the win over the Clarets on August 30.
"I don't know [if they are long-term injuries], I don't know, but I'm concerned about that. They are so important for us, so we'll see."
However, there's encouraging news regarding Lisandro Martinez's comeback. The 27-year-old Argentina international has been absent since February following an ACL injury, but is now training on the pitches at Carrington.