The Red Devils and the Foxes will feature in the 2018/2019 Premier League curtain raiser.

Manchester United will go head to head with Leicester City in the Premier League season's curtain-raiser on Friday and will aim to hit the ground running as quickly as possible. For many fans of the club, expectations ahead of this new season is not exactly high for numerous factors.

The prime reason majorly settles on the fact that the club has been surprisingly inactive in recruiting new personnel to fill up the ranks despite the need being quite vivid. With barely hours left for the transfer window to shut close in England, Jose Mourinho’s side only boasts of the signings of Diego Dalot, Fred, and Lee Grant.

The Portuguese manager, over the course of the preseason, has expressed his discontentment with the side's dealings in the transfer window and his convictions seem to have fallen on deaf ears with the club yet to recruit anyone after his statement. So, with the squad available, how will Jose set out his team going into a game which will draw critiques no matter the outcome?

For starters, a selection dilemma awaits the Red Devils manager with a host of key players out injured. The likes of Nemanja Matic, Diogo Dalot, Marcos Rojo, Eric Bailly and Antonio Valencia, all suffered respective injuries and could be unavailable for selection although the latter of the lot seems to be close to returning to full fitness. Additionally, World Cup returnees Marouane Fellaini, Jesse Lingard, Ashley Young, Paul Pogba and Romelu Lukaku all remain doubts for the upcoming clash with the Foxes.

De Gea could assume his normal post as the team’s No. 1 after returning just in time to feature in the last few preseason friendlies. For the center back pair, Victor Lindelof and Chris Smalling could be given the nod whereas an Eric Bailly and Phil Jones partnership looks subtly appealing should the former recover fully in time having picked up a minor injury against Bayern Munich in his side’s last outing.

Matteo Darmian and Luke Shaw could fill up the full-back role in the meantime although the latter’s inconsistency during the pre-season matches could make Mourinho think otherwise. For the midfield, Andreas Pereira’s standout performances in the preparatory matches could earn him a spot alongside Ander Herrera and new-boy Fred.

With Romelu Lukaku yet to integrate properly with the squad following his World Cup exploits with Belgium his club’s new No. 10, Marcus Rashford, could spearhead the attack while Alexis Sanchez and Juan Mata compliment him on the left and right wings respectively.