"The training group is bigger with more quality, and hopefully we’ll add layer to layer - but, of course, the season starts quickly and we haven’t got time to wait for anyone. Whoever is the fittest and in the best shape will be in line to play."
Solskjaer has given his take on United's current state after two pre-season games, heading into the third against Brentford tomorrow. It will be the largest Old Trafford crowd since before lockdown, and the first time I'll have attended a match since prior to the pandemic. Things are certainly on the up in that respect, and having the fans back at the Theatre of Dreams will be an absolute virtue to propel the players onwards in the coming season.
Diogo Dalot (back from his loan spell in Milan and his more recent post-Euros break after a late call-up for Portugal) and Donny van de Beek (returning from the injury that kept him out of the Euros) are both expected to be included on the bench tomorrow evening. Scott McTominay may be better prepared for some minutes after another few days training since his QPR absence, with Dan James playing a solid 45 minutes in the capital on his return.
However, Dean Henderson still isn't fit enough for inclusion and Bruno Fernandes only returned to training today - so will miss the cut. Alex Telles will likely be absent until September, a timeframe declared following further assessment on his ankle injury sustained in training last week. Paul Pogba hasn't been spotted back with the group, with it looking increasingly likely that injury-riddled Phil Jones could depart this summer. Meanwhile, there are no updates on Anthony Martial's fitness after his reported return to Carrington to train alone last week.
Nathan Bishop and Tahith Chong have left the group to join up with their loan clubs (Mansfield and Birmingham respectively).
Although the result was undoubtedly an anomaly given the relative inexperience of the United side fielded on Saturday, Ole's side will be hoping to bounce back from defeat against an admittedly better-prepared QPR side. It's another London side the obstacle, but this time newly-promoted Brentford. The Bees finished third and narrowly missed out on automatic promotion last term, but secured a spot in the Premier League via winning the playoffs. Dangerman Ivan Toney led the line with style, breaking the all-time Championship goalscoring record throughout the 2020/21 season: he's certainly one to watch out for over the coming campaign...
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