Manchester United are set to begin their pre-season with a match against Norwegian team Rosenborg in Trondheim, scheduled for a 5pm BST kickoff tomorrow,
In Trondheim, with its 21 hours of daylight during summer, the sun will still be shining as the game concludes, only setting at 11:05pm.
Manager Erik ten Hag aims for a smoother pre-season compared to 2023, when injuries to Kobbie Mainoo and Amad Diallo marred their preparation and hinted at the challenges ahead.
Last year's pre-season also highlighted issues with Ten Hag’s new transitions-based system, exemplified by a lackluster defeat to Wrexham.
With many players from Euro 24 and Copa America still on holiday, Ten Hag will need to experiment with different lineups ahead of their Premier League opener against Fulham on August 16th.
Jadon Sancho, who only resumed training on Wednesday after resolving differences with Ten Hag, will not participate in the game.
There's also uncertainty surrounding the availability of Harry Maguire and Jonny Evans.
Maguire’s recent injury kept him out of the England Euros squad, while Evans has just signed a new deal, leaving their fitness in question.
Andre Onana is expected to start as the goalkeeper, with Tom Heaton as a potential backup.
In defense, Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Victor Lindelof are likely to play, with the latter not involved in the Euros due to Sweden’s non-qualification. If Evans and Maguire are not fit, young Harry Amass might get a chance to impress.
Midfield could see Toby Collyer, fresh from signing a new deal, partnering with Casemiro.
The forward line might feature Amad, Antony, and Mason Mount supporting Marcus Rashford.
This match offers an early opportunity to see if the coaching influence of Ruud van Nistelrooy can help Rashford rediscover his goal-scoring form.
Additionally, Ethan Williams may have the chance to play at center forward, giving Ten Hag more options to consider for the upcoming season.