Two Manchester United players could debut vs Man City

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The first all-Manchester Community Shield since 2011 is upon us a mere 11 weeks on from United's season-salvaging double-wrecking FA Cup victory over City at Wembley.

United have only added two signings to their squad since their worst league campaign in 34 years and Leny Yoro will not be back until the clocks go back. Joshua Zirkzee is in contention for his debut today.

Lisandro Martinez, Kobbie Mainoo , Luke Shaw and Facundo Pellistri returned to training this week and the injury-prone Shaw has already sat out two training sessions. United could be without six defenders for their first game of the new season and here are five things to look out for.

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Another new defence

Erik ten Hag reminded us last week there were 33 different back four combinations last season. The back four against City will almost certainly be an entirely new defensive quartet.

Had Shaw participated in three full first-team training sessions this week, he still might not have started against City. News on Thursday that he was a "question mark" all but confirmed a debut for Harry Amass.

Left back Amass, 17, had not even played for the United academy this time last year. He only officially joined the club last August. United could be without up to six defenders with first-team experience. The senior defenders available at the time of writing are Martinez, Jonny Evans and Diogo Dalot.

How will Amass fare?

If Phil Foden or Bernardo Silva run rings around Amass, then he has to view it as a positive. These are the games to make mistakes in and learn harsh lessons. Patrice Evra lasted a half against City on his United debut and still had a great Old Trafford career. Another left back, Tyrell Malacia endured a worse 45 minutes at the same stadium 16-and-a-half years later.

And if Amass continues his breakout form of pre-season, what a lift that would be for player and club. Ten Hag suggested in Los Angeles last week Amass would require three more months to "catch up". Opponents struggled to catch up with Amass from LA to South Carolina, via San Diego.

Zirkzee or Sancho?

The late cricket writer Martin Johnson wrote the immortal line, "There are only three things wrong with this England team. They can't bat, can't bowl, and can't field."

United are in danger of mimicking England in a different ball game. There were three problems in their 3-0 summer defeat to Liverpool: the defence, the midfield and the attack.

Zirkzee, scorer of 12 goals in 37 games for Bologna last season, is not the obvious panacea. Neither is Jadon Sancho, who has expunged any mention of United from his Instagram account yet could play for the club for the first time since August 26 last year.

Casemiro in or out?

Casemiro was dropped for the FA Cup final yet started and captained United in all five of their pre-season friendlies. The prospect of him starting the season is an ominous one when United's bigger problem than their depleted defence last term was the lack of shielding in midfield.

The relatively ramshackle state of the United squad has already caused Ten Hag to downplay the Community Shield. Given he will be loath to risk Mainoo and could have to turn to rookie Toby Collyer, it is easy to see why.

Amad back in?

Bruno Fernandes was back at Carrington last week and, unlike Shaw, can be trusted to play after limited training time. Mason Mount enjoyed a propitious pre-season in the playmaker role but, with Fernandes around, there is no need for a changing of the guard.

Mount and Fernandes could be accommodated in the same front four, with one on the right and the other behind the striker. That would mean Amad missing out, though.

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