Man Utd predicted XI vs Brighton - will Erik ten Hag select Cristiano Ronaldo for season opener?

The Manchester United manager will pick his first Premier League side when the Seagulls travel to Old Trafford.

Erik ten Hag has a number of big selection decisions to make ahead of his first competitive Manchester United game.

The Red Devils manager took charge of six matches in pre-season, but Sunday’s fixture against Brighton & Hove Albion is the first to really matter in his premiership.

His plans also appear to have been thrown out of kilter with the news that Anthony Martial is reportedly set to miss out on the season opener with a hamstring injury, something the manager confirmed in his weekly pre-match press conference.

It means Ten Hag must decide whether to select Cristiano Ronaldo in his starting line-up or look elsewhere for options up front.

Meanwhile, the Red Devils remain light on options in central midfield following a summer pursuit of Frenkie de Jong that has so far proved unsuccessful.

Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Luke Shaw and Jadon Sancho all missed the double header of pre-season games against Atletico Madrid and Rayo Vallecano, but the trio are expected to have fully recovered, meaning Ten Hag must decide whether to select them on Sunday.

There’s also a question to ask about new signings Lisandro Martinez and Christian Eriksen, both of whom have not had the opportunity to build fitness ahead of the season due to their late arrivals, although Ten Hag said on Friday they were fit it required to start.

Therefore, Ten Hag has a lot to consider before the visit of the Seagulls, who beat United 4-0 when the sides last met in May.

But the Dutchman’s selections in the six warm-up matches have given some hint as to what his first-choice XI looks like, and here’s how we think United will line-up at Old Trafford…