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Seven critical returns for Man Utd vs PSG will start to shape the new season for Michael Carrick

Photo by Ash Donelon/Manchester United via Getty Images

Photo by Ash Donelon/Manchester United via Getty Images

Manchester United’s pre-season will start to get serious against Paris Saint-Germain at the weekend.

After matches against Wrexham, Rosenborg and Atletico Madrid, a fourth pre-season game awaits. Manchester United will take on the reigning back-to-back Champions League winners, Paris Saint-Germain.

United will have reinforcements for the fixture, with seven key players potentially returning for the friendly, which will be played in Gothenburg, Sweden.

Here is a look at the expected returnees…

Manchester United Training Session

Photo by Ash Donelon/Manchester United via Getty Images

Senne Lammens

Goalkeeper Senne Lammens returned to Carrington at the end of July, and he will be ready to get his pre-season started against PSG.

Lammens was one of United’s best players in 2025/26, proving to be an astute buy. He had an unhappy World Cup with Belgium and will be keen to put that behind him and move on.

The return of Lammens will be vital for United’s defenders, particularly Harry Maguire and Ayden Heaven, who have been the first-choice pairing in pre-season to date.

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Bruno Fernandes

Manchester United’s captain and the Premier League record-holder for assists in a single season, Bruno Fernandes is back.

Fernandes returned to training on Monday August 3, giving him the whole week to prepare for the upcoming games with PSG.

The Portuguese star is a near-guarantee to start the season opener, and it will be good to get him back into the groove.

Manchester United Training Session

Photo by Ash Donelon/Manchester United via Getty Images

Diogo Dalot

Where Fernandes goes, Diogo Dalot is never far behind. His Portugal teammate also returned to Carrington on August 3 to get his pre-season started.

The battle for the right-back spot will now commence, and it could bring an end to the brief Leny Yoro experiment at the position.

Manchester United Training Session

Photo by Ash Donelon/Manchester United via Getty Images

Noussair Mazraoui

Noussair Mazraoui returned to training on the same date as Diogo Dalot, ensuring neither one has a particular edge over the other in terms of fitness and preparation.

It will be an open contest between Mazraoui and Dalot to claim the starting right-back berth for United’s opener away at Hull City.

Youri Tielemans and Senne Lammens Arrive for Pre-Season Training

Photo by Ash Donelon/Manchester United via Getty Images

Youri Tielemans

Fans will get a first look at new signing Youri Tielemans in a Manchester United shirt against Paris Saint-Germain this weekend.

Tielemans returned to training at the end of last week along with Lammens. It will be fascinating to see which midfielder he is paired with.

The Mason Mount and Andrey Santos axis has been impressive so far, but it could now be broken up, and we may get a clue into Michael Carrick’s plans.

Manchester United Training Session

Photo by Ash Donelon/Manchester United via Getty Images

Matheus Cunha

Matheus Cunha is also back with the Manchester United squad, as one of four players to return this week along with Fernandes, Dalot and Mazraoui.

The Brazilian will begin ramping up preparations for the season, and he will be looking to dislodge Patrick Dorgu from the left-wing role.

Manchester United Training Session

Photo by Ash Donelon/Manchester United via Getty Images

Benjamin Sesko

Benjamin Sesko has been on an individual training plan over the past two weeks, and we are hoping that he will now start to be integrated into group sessions.

It would be a positive sign in terms of Sesko’s fitness if he is able to get some minutes under his belt against PSG.

Sesko will be competing with Bryan Mbeumo and Joshua Zirkzee up front, while we could also see Cunha at the position too, especially if the Slovenian is not ready to return.

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