Derby County vs Manchester United LIVE Tom Heaton and Mason Greenwood start pre-season fixture
Tom Heaton #TomHeaton
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Follow latest updates from Man Utd’s first pre-season game of the summer as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side return to action.
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Manchester United face Derby County in their first pre-season friendly ahead of the new season at Pride Park.
Manchester United are back in action this afternoon for the first time since their agonising Europa League final defeat on penalties to Villarreal.
It has been nearly two months away from club football for the United players, many of whom will miss today’s friendly against Derby as they rest following Euro 2020.
Harry Maguire, Luke Shaw and Marcus Rashford are among those who haven’t returned to training yet, after helping England to the final of the European Championship over the summer. Others like Paul Pogba, Fred, Bruno Fernandes and David de Gea will also be missing from today’s squad at Pride Park.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer will therefore field a young team comprised of the players who have been back in first team training in the past week or two.
United XI: Heaton; Wan-Bissaka, Mengi, Tuanzebe, Williams; Levitt, Garner; Elanga, Mata (c), Chong; Greenwood.
Subs: Grant, Bishop, Telles, Fish, Bernard, Lingard, Andreas, Pellistri, Matic, Hannibal, Galbraith, Shoretire, Hugill.
Follow our dedicated live match blog below for all the updates (kick off 1pm).
12 MIN, 0-0SAMUEL LUCKHURST
Lethargic at times from United
That was a decent save from Heaton (no replays here, so impossible to tell how good/routine it was).
United are playing like the mishmash of a team they are. There is a general lethargy about their play which you expect in these games and none of the front six have got a foothold in the game. They could do with getting Garner on the ball more to start attacks and bring some fluidity to the play.
You can tell Heaton played under Sean Dyche. He’s easily audible amid the return of matchgoers.
11 MIN, 0-0DOMINIC BOOTH
Heaton save
A bit of a mess defensively there for United and Heaton has to make a decent save, as Burke picks out Davies with a raking cross.
8 MIN, 0-0DOMINIC BOOTH
Sharp up front
Nice play from Greenwood to anticipate contact from a Derby centre-back, but he doesn’t get the foul he probably deserved.
Wan-Bissaka and Chong are looking sharp down the right flank.
6 MIN, 0-0DOMINIC BOOTH
On the ball
A sharp burst from Elanga down the left, as the youngster gets his cross in but it’s easily cleared. United starting to get on the ball now, wearing their new kit of course.
Tuanzebe has seen plenty of the ball.
4 MIN, 0-0DOMINIC BOOTH
Great to hear the United fans
A brilliant day out in the sun for the travelling Reds.
Williams does some tidy mopping up after a long Derby hoof up field.
3 MIN, 0-0SAMUEL LUCKHURST
The knee was applauded
No boos whatsoever for the taking of the knee. There’s an awful lot to be grateful for with the England team but they may well have silenced the dunderheads who have booed players taking the knee.
The real gauge will be when stadiums are full but there was applause just then and there was at Rochdale yesterday, too.
2 MIN, 0-0DOMINIC BOOTH
Defending
It might be a difficult task to maintain a high press on such a hot day, but United tried it from kick off, with Derby enjoying a decent spell from the off. Baldock’s shot is deflected past Heaton and out for a corner.
United doing some defending early on.
DOMINIC BOOTH
KICK OFF
The wait is over. Manchester United are playing football again. We’re under way in Derby.
12:57DOMINIC BOOTH
Ready to go
We’re counting down to kick off now. 8,000 inside Pride Park for this one and it’s a sweltering day.
12:52SAMUEL LUCKHURST
Eric Ramsay doing his bit
The playlist at Derby is so bad there’s a Queen remix. Queen is bad enough most of the time just on their own.
John Murtough is here for the game. Solskjaer and Mike Phelan – amazingly not in shorts – are enjoying a chinwag with Rooney by the dugout and United’s new set-piece coach Eric Ramsay is out there having individual chats with some of the substitutes.
12:46TYRONE MARSHALL
Welcome return of fans
Fans are back inside Pride Park today and it’s the first time in 500 days United have had fans at an away game, since the FA Cup win at this very stadium coincidentally. Right now it’s impossible to hear them, however, with a selection of dreadful dance tracks being played at ear-splitting volume over the tannoy.
Derby really trying to crank up the drama and tension for this first pre-season friendly of the summer. A We will Rock You remix now getting an airing that can probably be heard in Nottingham.
(Image: 2021 Manchester United FC)
12:41SAMUEL LUCKHURST
Heaton’s long-awaited return
Dean Henderson’s absence is a slight surprise but he only returned to training this week and, of course, withdrew from the Euros with a hip injury. He did ball-work in training at Carrington, though.
For Tom Heaton, this is not his maiden first-team appearance for United. He played at Old Trafford in a 2007 March exhibition game against a European XI to mark the 50th anniversary of United’s participation in the European Cup.
New signing Heaton in training.
12:25DOMINIC BOOTH
Solskjaer on Morrison
A player he knows very well is in the opposition line-up today:
“I had Rav in the reserves, what a talent, a top, top player. The last time I saw him play was for Ostersunds against Molde, he’s had a career with some ups and downs but he’s always had a talent.”
12:22DOMINIC BOOTH
Solskjaer chats before the game
The United boss has been talking to MUTV before the game
On building fitness in the heat: “This is going to be draining for them but we’ll make loads of changes, they’ll have 45 minutes each, the two centre backs will last a little bit longer than that, but it’s the first proper test.”
On the United youngsters playing today: “I think they can impress me, I’m sure they will try to. Young kids when they get a chance, they’re there because they’re good players now it’s seeing who can handle playing with the senior ones and who can fit in with the group. We’ve got a young group training but we’ve got some experience with Juan, Nemanja, Jesse, Alex, experienced pros.”
Solskjaer before the Derby game (Image: 2021 Manchester United FC)
12:16TYRONE MARSHALL
Joe Hugill can catch the eye
Maybe the most exciting name on the bench from a United point of view is Joe Hugill. The 17-year-old striker scored 10 goals in 21 games for United Under-23s last season and has been earning rave reviews for his performances with Neil Wood’s side and his training efforts.
Pre-season is his chance to experience a taste of life with the first-team and given United are short of options in attack at the moment he should get a run out.
Joe Hugill could be the next Manchester United starlet to break through the academy.
12:09SAMUEL LUCKHURST
The Varane question will be asked
The Varane news seems to have gone down well many are expressing their excitement at a transfer written by the MEN. That’s how giddy certain fans get over transfers.
Solskjaer is due to speak to the press after the game and there are an awful lot of questions to ask him about but he never gets into speaking about other clubs’ players.
Paul Pogba and Raphael Varane could soon be club teammates
12:04DOMINIC BOOTH
Derby XI includes Ravel Morrison
Derby: Roos, Byrne, Jagielka, Davies, Buchanan; Shinnie, Bird; Morrison, Lawrence, Aluko; Baldock.
12:02DOMINIC BOOTH
Two United legends in the dugout
They could still do a job up front together, you know.
11:58DOMINIC BOOTH
Lingard and Morrison chatting
Jesse Lingard and Ravel Morrison were in the same academy year at Manchester United, and have been reacquainting with each other on the Pride Park turf.
Morrison is on trial with Wayne Rooney’s side at the moment and could feature today.
Jesse Lingard of Manchester United talks to Ravel Morrison of Derby County (Image: 2021 Getty Images)
11:52SAMUEL LUCKHURST
Chong gets a rare chance
There is little logic in Tahith Chong starting any pre-season games for United when he is off to Birmingham on loan but this is the only one where a start can just about be justified.
United cannot experiment or warm-up for the start of the season with the set of players and that is why they are coming up against top-tier opponents later in the month, when Pogba, Fernandes, Dalot, McTominay et al. will be back.
Tahith Chong has signed for Birmingham on loan
11:50DOMINIC BOOTH
Confirmation of full squad
United XI: Heaton; Wan-Bissaka, Mengi, Tuanzebe, Williams; Levitt, Garner; Elanga, Mata (c), Chong; Greenwood.
Subs: Grant, Bishop, Telles, Fish, Bernard, Lingard, Andreas, Pellistri, Matic, Hannibal, Galbraith, Shoretire, Hugill.
KEY EVENT
Confirmed team news
Here we go.
11:42TYRONE MARSHALL
Players assess the scene
The Manchester United players have just arrived at Pride Park and are out on the pitch now having a look at what is a pristine playing surface, as you would expect for the opening day of pre-season.
Jesse Lingard and Hannibal Mejbri are both included in the squad despite only beginning pre-season late last week, while Tom Heaton is also here and will feature at some point today. It’s a scorching day in the East Midlands and it’s going to be a tough work out for these United players as they look to begin their journey to match fitness.
Wayne Rooney and his Derby players on the pitch before the game (Image: 2021 Getty Images)
11:40SAMUEL LUCKHURST
Confirmed squad members
Lingard, Shoretire, Galbraith, Hannibal, Heaton, Pereira, Tuanzebe, Wan Bissaka, Williams, Greenwood are all at Pride Park. Grant, Garner and Mengi, too. More to follow.
11:24DOMINIC BOOTH
When is team news?
It’s never an exact science with pre-season games, but we can still expect the United team news to drop roughly an hour before kick off this afternoon.
It will be a mix of experienced fringe players, youngsters from the academy, and possibly the likes of Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Mason Greenwood and Dean Henderson to feature too.
Mason Greenwood of Manchester United in action during a pre-season training session (Image: 2021 Manchester United FC)
11:07DOMINIC BOOTH
What Solskjaer can learn from Derby game
Given it’s only pre-season, you’d hope United fans wouldn’t read too much into today’s result, whether it’s a win, loss or draw.
The bulk of the first team is not present and hasn’t even trained yet, so the United side will resemble more of an Under-23s XI. At least Ole Gunnar Solskjaer will get an opportunity to assess his fringe players and many of those who were out on loan last season will feel they have a point to prove.
It should be a useful exercise, but it shouldn’t have too much bearing on the Premier League campaign that’s to come.
Manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and First Team Coach Eric Ramsay of Manchester United in action during a first team training session at Carrington Training Ground. (Photo by Matthew Peters/Manchester United via Getty Images)
10:51DOMINIC BOOTH
The stage is set
Hot and sorching weather for a pre-season game. By law, it has to be this way, even if we are in the East Midlands.
10:42DOMINIC BOOTH
United annual
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10:22DOMINIC BOOTH
Rooney reunion today
Wayne Rooney meets Manchester United this afternoon. What a career he had at Old Trafford.
10:11DOMINIC BOOTH
Alex Telles addresses his United future
Alex Telles insists he is fully focused on proving his worth as he enters his second season with Manchester United.
The Brazilian full-back has been linked with a possible move away this summer, after finding his opportunities limited last season due to Luke Shaw’s stellar form.
The former Porto left-back told United Daily he has unfinished business heading into his second season but he knows United still believe in him to succeed:
“I’m really happy to be back here. It’s a pleasure to be at Manchester United coming into my second season.
“Last season, we came really close to winning trophies, so we go into this next season with a lot of desire and I really want to show my work and my value here at the club.
“I’m really looking forward to the [Derby] game, I’m going into the game with a lot of desire. I think it’s a really great opportunity for us players who have been here for the last two weeks.
I believe it’s an opportunity to show my value, my quality and my potential here at United.”
Read more from Telles here
Facundo Pellistri and Alex Telles could both play vs Derby this weekend
10:00DOMINIC BOOTH
How to watch Derby vs United
You can, of course, follow every kick of today’s United pre-season friendly on this live blog.
And United fans can watch the match exclusively on MUTV, the club’s official channel – which is the place to watch all of the club’s pre-season matches.
The other pre-season games are against Leeds United, QPR, Brentford, Preston North End and Everton.
For more TV details on United’s pre-season, head here
09:42DOMINIC BOOTH
Possible United squad for today
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is expected to give youth a chance for the first of five summer friendly matches today, as a number of key players enjoy a well-earned break after international involvement.
Nine of last season’s academy set-up could be in line to feature in the opening match of pre-season with Will Fish, Di’Shon Bernard, Ethan Galbraith, Joe Hugill, Matej Kovar, Shola Shoretire, Dylan Levitt, Anthony Elanga and Hannibal all involved in first-team training this week.
These are the available players vs Derby:
Bishop, Grant, Heaton, Henderson, Kovar; Bernard, Fish, Mengi, Tuanzebe, Telles, Wan-Bissaka, Williams; Galbraith, Garner, Hannibal, Levitt, Lingard, Mata, Matic, Pereira; Chong, Elanga, Greenwood, Hugill, Pellistri, Shoretire.
Read more on the United team news here
United face Derby in their first pre-season fixture on Sunday
DOMINIC BOOTH
Welcome
Good morning and welcome to our first match blog of this summer’s pre-season.
It’s United against Derby at Pride Park, kicking off at 1pm, and we’ll have all the build up and updates from the game. Stay tuned.
Check out for more live updates here https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/manchester-united-vs-derby-live-21081460