Manchester United travel to face Rosenborg in their second pre-season fixture today
Manchester United travel to face Rosenborg in their second pre-season fixture today
Manchester United take on Norwegian club Rosenborg in their second pre-season fixture this evening.
United's 2026/27 warm-up games began last weekend in Helsinki as a mixture of academy and senior players lost 1-0 to Championship club Wrexham. The 25-man squad is largely unchanged from the one that travelled to Finland, apart from the inclusion of exciting teenager JJ Gabriel.
The 15-year-old replaces striker Ethan Wheatley in the travelling squad. Gabriel had been in contention for the Wrexham game but his return date for pre-season prevented him from joining the team.
New signings Youri Tielemans and Karl Darlow are absent from the squad. Tielemans is currently enjoying a post-World Cup break while Darlow is recovering from a minor injury.
Benjamin Sesko is also absent due to a shin injury. First-team regulars such as Bruno Fernandes, Kobbie Mainoo and Matheus Cunha remain unavailable.
A 1-0 defeat to Wrexham wasn't ideal last weekend, but these fixtures are rarely about the result. Carrick will be wanting his players to improve their fitness once again today. If they can score goals and come out with a win in doing so, then all the better. But win, lose or draw, players' application today will be remembered much longer than the end result.
Manchester United Head Coach / Manager Michael Carrick applauds the fans at the end of the pre-season friendly match between Manchester United and AFC Wrexham at Helsingin Olympiastadion
Manchester United Head Coach / Manager Michael Carrick applauds the fans at the end of the pre-season friendly match between Manchester United and AFC Wrexham at Helsingin Olympiastadion(Image: Getty)
Here's the 25-man group that Carrick has to choose from this evening in Norway:
Goalkeepers: Heaton, Mee, Vitek.
Defenders: Amass, Armer, Dorgu, Heaven, Kamason, Maguire, Shaw, Yoro.
Midfielders: Collyer, Devaney, J. Fletcher, T. Fletcher, Gore, Mount, Santos, Thwaites.
Attackers: Lacey, Mbeumo, Gabriel, Obi, Williams, Zirkzee
Read more about the travelling squad, here>>>
(Image: Manchester United via Getty Images)
This is how our writers think United should line up this evening:
Tyrone Marshall
Carrick showed his hand last week by picking a strong team in the first half and then ringing the changes at the break. I'd keep the pattern reasonably similar this half, with a couple of changes. One of them is moving Yoro to centre-back alongside Maguire. There has to be a chance that this is the partnership that begins the Premier League season, so let's see them together now.
I would also bring Tyler Fletcher in to play alongside Andrey Santos, with Mason Mount as the No.10, and would hand Joshua Zirkzee a chance through the middle.
Steven Railston
I'd largely pick the same team that started against Wrexham last weekend, but would make a handful of changes. The first would be bringing Vitek into the XI at the expense of Heaton, who can play in the second half when wholesale changes are made.
Tyler Fletcher should swap roles with his brother, Jack, who started in Finland. He is the more likely of the pair to stay with the first-team squad in the new campaign, so it makes sense for him to start.
Playing Zirkzee up front is fine in the first two pre-season games, which are essentially fitness exercises, but it will be concerning if he's the only fit forward on the eve of the new campaign. Carrick should give Gabriel minutes in the second half.
Today's game will kick off at 5pm UK time (6pm local). Fans wishing to watch the match can do so on MUTV. Alternatively, stay tuned here for all the pre-match build-up, live updates and reaction from Norway.
(Image: Manchester United via Getty Images)
Hello and welcome to live coverage of United's second pre-season fixture against Rosenborg in Trondheim, Norway. This evening will be another tough test for the Reds as they play a side currently 13 games into their season. This match will be all about fitness for the 25-man United squad, but Carrick will be hoping to see some improvements after another week of training at Carrington.
A lot of the excitement ahead of today's game is around JJ Gabriel's inclusion. The 15-year-old could make his first senior appearance for United today having impressed for the academy last season. Should Carrick approach this game like he did last weekend, we can expect to see Gabriel gain some first-team exposure.
Stay tuned for updates...