Man Utd's new season begins later this month, and Michael Carrick has a welcome team selection headache.
Michael Carrick at the Strawberry Arena.(Image: 2026 Getty Images)
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Manchester United fans are raving about Mason Mount after another strong performance in pre-season.
Mount's displays should not be a surprise. He ended last season strongly and trained individually abroad before the official start of United's pre-season, a staple of his routine over the last few years.
Michael Carrick has only played Mount in a deeper midfield role since his appointment, and the 27-year-old has looked at home, impressing with a combination of his accurate passing and defensive work.
There is chemistry forming between Mount and Andrey Santos, who have combined well. "I've known Andre for a while," said Mount in Norway. "I've watched him from afar, since he's obviously broken into the first team at Chelsea. I think he's a really good player.
"I know he's young, but he's very experienced in going out on loan and playing in the Premier League as well. He reads the game very well. He's a little bit more defensive, so it allows me to push on a little bit more forward in these last two games and work off him."
Mount praised Santos' defensive ability and admitted he is enjoying playing a deeper role. "I think defensively as well, we're both players that want to get around it, want to put tackles in and win the ball back and be aggressive, so I've really enjoyed it" he added.
"It's a position that I've played for many, many years from a young age, so I'm used to that in there. It's a position that I love and that I see myself in."
Carrick now has a welcome team selection headache ahead of the opening day of the season against Hull on August 22.
Bruno Fernandes is due back at Carrington this week. He is nailed on to start against Hull later this month, but the remaining two starting midfield spots are up for grabs over the coming weeks.
Mount and Santos are currently the heavy favourites to start alongside Fernandes. They have the advantage of having been in the building since the start of pre-season and of getting ahead on match fitness.
Mount and Santos in Sweden last weekend.
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While getting minutes in the legs is advantageous, the pair have taken the opportunities presented to them and performed. There were understandable signs of rust from Santos in his first appearance against Wrexham, but he took steps forward against Rosenborg and Atletico Madrid.
United have three pre-season friendlies remaining this summer against Paris Saint-Germain, Leeds and AC Milan. Youri Tielemans will be available for selection against PSG after reporting to Carrington last week, while Bruno Fernandes could be in contention for the trip as he is due back this week.
England reached the semi-finals of the World Cup, so Kobbie Mainoo will return slightly later. The youngster will be back in time to be included in the squad to visit Dublin for the clash against Leeds, though.
Tielemans will have three games to get minutes in his legs and make an impression on Carrick ahead of the opening Premier League clash, while Mainoo will have a maximum of just two pre-season appearances.
Everything points to Carrick picking a Santos, Mount, and Fernandes midfield on the opening day of the season, as Tielemans and Mainoo continue to build their match fitness.
Even if they were at full fitness ahead of the new campaign, Mount and Santos have done enough in the opening three friendlies to make a compelling case to fill the two midfield spots behind Fernandes.
Carrick was heavily reliant on Fernandes, Mainoo and Casemiro last season, but the midfield now looks in a healthier place, and another midfielder is expected to be signed before the end of the transfer window.
It will be fascinating to see how Tielemans gets on in the next few weeks, as he is more likely to snatch a starting role away from Santos or Mount for the opening day of the season than Mainoo because he reported for pre-season earlier.
Such dilemmas are the kind of selection headaches Carrick wants.